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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza. EPA
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Secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt Mostafa Waziri (C-L) speaks next to a sarcophagus discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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Sarcophaguses, excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission, displayed during a press conference at the Saqqara necropolis, 30 kms south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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One of the sarcophaguses excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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Sarcophaguses, excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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Khaled El-Enaby, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, right, and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, left, react after opening the sarcophagus is around 2500 years old at the Saqqara archaeological site. AP
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A sarcophagus that is around 2500 years old is displayed at the Saqqara archaeological site, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt. AP
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A sarcophagus that is around 2500 years old at the Saqqara archaeological site is shown, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt. AP
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Egyptian archeologists work on one of the sarcophagi discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis.EPA
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Members of the press gather around sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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A man stands near sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCOHXR7WXPO4GKLLICC32VY7SA.jpg?smart=true&auth=73f2e9afa0976ca4c696adddcda67ad2b4cbcd3e6da3495eb992ae4f85f3f08f&width=400&height=225)
A man looks at one of the statues on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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epa08717855 A view of one of the sarcophagi discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt, 03 October 2020. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. The 2500 years old coffins, believed to be belonging to the 26th Dynasty Priests, are expected to be transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza. EPA
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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza. EPA
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Secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt Mostafa Waziri (C-L) speaks next to a sarcophagus discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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Sarcophaguses, excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission, displayed during a press conference at the Saqqara necropolis, 30 kms south of the Egyptian capital Cairo, which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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One of the sarcophaguses excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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Sarcophaguses, excavated by the Egyptian archaeological mission which resulted in the discovery of a deep burial well with more than 59 human coffins closed for more than 2,500 years. AFP
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Khaled El-Enaby, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, right, and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, left, react after opening the sarcophagus is around 2500 years old at the Saqqara archaeological site. AP
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A sarcophagus that is around 2500 years old is displayed at the Saqqara archaeological site, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt. AP
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A sarcophagus that is around 2500 years old at the Saqqara archaeological site is shown, 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of Cairo, Egypt. AP
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Egyptian archeologists work on one of the sarcophagi discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis.EPA
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Members of the press gather around sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7CISOEP7I2FL72BBM5IQGV3IGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=825415d37596ba9034e28e1e1d96a58a65913602f2ef260f61bc101bf871724e&width=400&height=225)
A man stands near sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LBYU7XOEYDMARWF4H2ZT2VNLII.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e019e7c443634bc3896b6a4d633ec5d4763231b9d1327c066983ab0ad97e186&width=400&height=225)
People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LCOHXR7WXPO4GKLLICC32VY7SA.jpg?smart=true&auth=73f2e9afa0976ca4c696adddcda67ad2b4cbcd3e6da3495eb992ae4f85f3f08f&width=400&height=225)
A man looks at one of the statues on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. EPA
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epa08717855 A view of one of the sarcophagi discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza, Egypt, 03 October 2020. An Egyptian archaeological mission uncovered a total of 59 intact and sealed coffins in three burial shafts dozen of meters deep in the Saqqara necropolis. The 2500 years old coffins, believed to be belonging to the 26th Dynasty Priests, are expected to be transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum. EPA/KHALED ELFIQI
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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza. EPA
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People inspect the sarcophagus on display after they were discovered at Saqqara Necropolis, Giza. EPA
Should Egypt be unearthing mummies? The curse of the pharaohs in the time of Covid
The curse of the pharaohs is the last thing 2020 needs, but Egypt has a plan to boost tourism despite the pandemic
![Hamza Hendawi](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2Fd19fdbcc-f962-44d4-8282-3338a0550c7e.png?smart=true&auth=4d21e32ab7cc6f3efcb0a50da2b489234eb013c147f5b8108cb74285962fe0f3&width=70&height=70)
Hamza Hendawi
31 March, 2021
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