5,000-year-old cemetery found near Abydos
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A team of Egyptian experts have discovered a cemetery that dates back to the early Pharaonic dynasties (about 5 thousand years) south of Cairo.
The necropolis was discovered in the area of Um Al Geaab, in the south of the archeological zone of Abid, province of Sohag, about 500 kilometers from the Egyptian capital.
The cemetery contains 13 adobe mud graves of various styles and sizes, which, according to experts, belong to senior officials of the Pharaonic state, or were built for workers who participated in building tombs for royalty.
Inside the tombs were found a set of wooden sarcophagi with human skeletons, as well as objects made of ivory, including game pieces for playing Senet, an ancient Egyptian board game.
Moreover, archaeologists discovered a set of red agate gems, and a small wooden box containing the remains of an organic material that experts have begun to analyze to determine its origin.
Finally, they found dishes and pottery vessels, artifacts and funerary statuettes “ushabtiu”, representing servants who, according to the Egyptian old belief, worked for the deceased in eternal life.
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, about 11 km (6 miles) west of the Nile. Considered one of the most important archaeological sites of ancient Egypt, the sacred city was the site of many ancient temples, including a royal necropolis where early pharaohs were entombed. Abydos became notable for the Great Temple built by Seti I, which contains a tunnel displaying a chronological list showing cartouche names of every dynastic pharaoh of Egypt from the first, Narmer/Menes, until the pharaohs of the last dynasty.
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