Egypt unearths three ancient tombs at Bahariya Oasis

An Egyptian archaeological mission has unearthed three previously unknown tombs at the Sheikh Soby site in the Bahariya Oasis, Egypt, alongside a collection of ancient artifacts. The discovery, announced by the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry, reveals tombs from distinct eras of Egyptian history, including the Roman and Late Periods.

The first tomb, dating back to Egypt's Late Period (664-332 BCE), is a rock-cut structure believed to house a single family of five. It features a square shaft leading to two burial chambers. The western chamber contained a limestone sarcophagus with a mummy wrapped in linen. The northern chamber held four limestone sarcophagi, each with a linen-wrapped mummy.

Two tombs from the Roman period were also found. The second is an undecorated, staircase-style tomb that current evidence suggests was not used for burial. The third, also from the Roman period, is a shaft-style tomb with a hall leading to two chambers. This hall may have served as a receiving room before burial. Fragments of a ceramic coffin were found in the southern chamber, and a limestone sarcophagus with a missing lid was discovered in the eastern chamber.

Excavations at the eastern entrance of the third tomb revealed a side burial with an oval-shaped ceramic coffin, broken into pieces. The coffin's lid depicted a raised human face. The Sheikh Soby site is significant as it contains a Late Period cemetery, including the tombs of rulers and priests from that era, as well as the Temple of El-Bawiti.

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The placement of the sarcophagi in the chamber is consistent with the method of placing sarcophagi in Late Period tombs at the site.