Cache of mummies unearthed at Egypt's Lahun pyramid

Reuters ^ | Sunday, April 26, 2009 | Cynthia Johnston, ed by Angus MacSwan

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologists have unearthed a cache of pharaonic-era mummies in brightly painted wooden coffins near Egypt's little-known Lahun pyramid, the site head said on Sunday. The mummies were the first to be found in the sand-covered desert rock surrounding the mud-brick Lahun pyramid, believed to be built by the 12th dynasty pharaoh Senusret II, who ruled 4,000 years ago. The team expects to announce more finds soon. The site was first excavated more than a century ago... Some of the tombs were built on top of graves from earlier eras, and Ayedi said archaeologists had found dozens of mummies, including around 30 that were well-preserved. Some were inscribed with prayers intended to help the deceased... Ayedi said Egypt would soon announce an additional significant find near the Lahun pyramid, once covered by slabs of white limestone, showing the site could date back to an earlier era thousands of years before previously thought... Ayedi said he had wanted to excavate at Lahun, Egypt's southernmost pyramid, because he was not satisfied with the result of the first excavation there in the 19th century, saying it did not match the significance of the site.

[SunkenCiv]

• Ancient royal burial chamber found [ Pharaoh Senusret II ]
• Fred Nerks posted a map showing Lahun
• Dutch Archaeologists Uncover Earliest Egyptian Temple [2000]

[SunkenCiv]

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[Frantzie]

Mummies? Oh I thought this was a story about Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

[Daaave]

An very interesting post (As always.). Thanks.

[Daaave]

Pyramid Structure Near El-Lahun, Egypt

This wooden coffin is believed to be 2,500 years old and is decorated with 6 different gods including an incarnation of the king of the gods Amun-Ra, depicted here as part ram, part hawk and with the sun on his head.

This coffin shows Osiris, god of the dead depicted in the form of large hawks. The person inside is probably a woman from the 22nd dynasty according to Abdul Rahman El-Aidy.

The mummy on the left of this picture was believed to be the more significant of the two. The soot that can be seen is possibly left over from the mummifying process while the face has been deliberately painted black as a symbol of fertility and birth. The coffin on the right has decoration along its middle, a depiction of four gods that served to protect the entrails, removed during the mummification process.

[Lockbar]

Those are really great looking mummies, almost look too good. Klinton is on his way over to date a couple of them. I don't think male or female mummy would really matter to him.

[JoeProBono]

[snarks_when_bored]

(laughing)

[apro]

I can just hear the Afrocentric now: "ITS FAKE NO PALE SKINNED PEOPLE EXISTED 4,000 YEARS AGO IN ANCIENT EGYPT!! YOU EUROPEANS WENT BACK IN TIME AND PLANTED THIS MUMMY!!" BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Sorry, I just couldn't resist. ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

I like your aprocentric view. ;’)

[apro]

Sorry, I just couldn’t resist. LOL! ;-)

[SunkenCiv]

[the coffin creaks open, an ancient joke lumbers forward]

People who study mummies aren’t wrapped too tight.