TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Egyptian archaeologists publicized their findings on an ancient burial and mummification workshop, on Saturday, July 14. They found the site in April 2018 at the depth of 30 meters beneath the earth’s surface near the Saqqara necropolis, South Cairo.
The archeologists expected the findings would help them shed light on regarding the oils used by ancient Egyptians to mummify dead bodies.
The burial, which was estimated in the age of 2,000 years, was believed to date back the Saite-Persian era at approximately 664-404 BC. There were 35 mummies were found, as Middle East Monitor reported.
“What this discovery will add are two very important things; the first is the type of oils used (in mummification), and their chemical make-up. So we will be able to identify the exact types of oils used,” said Ramadan Badry Hussein, head of the Egyptian-German mission that uncovered the site.
In addition to the oils or chemical materials, the archeologists also found hundreds of sarcophagus, jars, and vessels that were suspected used for mummification inside the burial site. Egypt expected the findings revealed by the archeologists would boost its tourism sector and attract foreign tourists since its 2011 political riot.
CHOIRUL AMINUDDIN