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Perfectly Preserved

By Andrea Delbanco

Inside an ancient tomb, hidden behind a statue, is a secret door. Archaeologists pry the door open to reveal a secret chamber. There lie three coffins, each containing a mummy. It may sound like a scene from a creepy movie, but it's exactly what happened to archaeologists while working in Egypt.

The team of Australian archaeologists was exploring tombs in a cemetery near the Saqqara pyramids, 15 miles south of Cairo, Egypt's capital. While digging in a tomb that dates back 4,200 years, the scientists moved the statue and made their surprising discovery.

The hidden tomb contained three wooden coffins shaped like human beings. These types of coffins are called anthropoids. The coffins had markings indicating that they are from Egypt's 26th Dynasty, which took place about 2,500 years ago.

A Magnificent Mummy
Ancient Egyptians believed that the dead should look as they did when they were alive. Bodies were treated with special chemicals that helped to stop decay. To help the bodies retain their shape, they were tightly wrapped in linen strips. They were often decorated with beads and buried with their belongings.

Zahi Hawass, Egypt's top archaeologist, is excited about the discovery. He believes the mummies will offer important information about the 26th Dynasty.

"Inside one coffin was maybe one of the best mummies ever preserved," he says. "The chest is covered with beads. (With) most of the mummies of this period, the beads are completely gone, but this mummy has them all."

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