A team of archaeologists discovered 33 family tombs in Egypt containing mummy remains and funeral tools, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Ancient Heritage announced on Monday.
The ministry said in a statement that an archaeological mission working near the mausoleum of the Aga Khan in southeastern Egypt discovered 33 tombs dating to the Late Period (712-332 BC) and the Greco-Roman Period (332 BC to the 4th century AD). The discovery was made west of the city of Aswan.
According to researchers, the find will provide knowledge about diseases that occurred among Egyptians at that time. “Some mummies show signs of anemia, malnutrition, lung disease, tuberculosis and osteoporosis,” said Patricia Piacentini, head of the Italian part of the archaeological group and professor of Egyptology at the University of Milan.
The Egyptian-Italian team that found the tombs has been conducting joint excavations since 2018 around the Aga Khan mausoleum on the west bank of the Nile.
Egypt regularly announces information regarding archaeological discoveries. According to some experts, news devoted to them is more important than news about politics and the economy. This country of 106 million people, mired in economic crisis, is counting on the revival of the tourism industry, which provides about two million jobs and accounts for 10 percent of GDP. Cairo expects annual tourist numbers to reach 30 million by 2028. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Egypt welcomed approximately 13 million visitors every year.
Main photo source: Facebook/Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities