Archaeologists discover 2,000-year-old necropolis in Egypt

Researchers found a ‘Happy New Year’ charm on December 31 last year

Men secure a stone sarcophagus discovered in an ancient burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Four canopic jars, made of alabaster with lids bearing the faces of the four sons of god Horus, that were unearthed are displayed at the site of an ancient Egyptian cemetery, in Minya province, 245km south of Cairo, Egypt. According to the Ministry of Antiquities, an ancient Egyptian cemetery was discovered 6km north of the Tuna al-Gabal archaeological site in Minya, containing a number of burial shafts dating to the late pharaonic period and early Ptolemaic era. The archaeological mission unearthed a mummy decorated with a bronze collar, 1000 figurines, some 40 sarcophagi, four canopic jars, and other funerary items. Ibrahim Youssef / EPA

Egyptian antiquities worker is seen inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Egyptian antiquities worker brushes a coffin inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

A stone sarcophagi, discovered in an ancient burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Skulls are seen inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Egyptian antiquities worker gestures near a coffin inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Ancient statues discovered near an ancient necropolis in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Egyptian antiquities worker brushes a deceased animal's skull inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

A wooden coffin inside the recently discovered burial site in Minya, Egypt. Mohamed Abd El Ghany / Reuters

Egyptian archaeologists have discovered an ancient necropolis containing 40 stone sarcophagi, about 1,000 small statues and a necklace charm bearing the hieroglyphic inscription "Happy New Year".

The discovery near Tuna Al Gabal, south of Cairo, consisted of a large number of burial shafts dating from the late Pharaonic period to the early Ptolomaic era, said the country’s antiquities minister Khaled El Enany.

The site, which is more than 2,000 years old, is expected to take another five years to excavate.

"It's only the beginning," said Mr Enany. "We are very soon going to add a new archaeological attraction to Middle Egypt."

Egypt's relics are a draw for foreign visitors and authorities hope new finds can help attract more as a way to help revive tourism hit by the unrest that followed the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

The number of tourists visiting the country rose 54 per cent to 8.3 million last year, still below the 14.7 million who came in 2010.

Mostafa Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the scarab charm with the new year greeting had been unearthed last New Year's Eve in a "wonderful coincidence".

"This is a message sent to us from the afterlife," he said.