(SCA) Archaeologists from Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities inside one of the newly discovered tombs at Saqqara; Source: Fox News

Archaeologists in Egypt made a stunning discovery recently: two of the largest tombs ever found in Saqqara, the ancient burial ground near Memphis where the country once buried its rulers.

According to French news agency AFP, one of two tombs found consists of a vast chamber that branches off into many alcoves, one containing skeletons and pottery, another containing a 23-foot deep well.

“This is the largest tomb in Saqqara,” Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the head of the mission, told the AFP. “It took me two hours to look round all of it.”

Dr. Hawass said that the two newly discovered tombs were found at the Ras El Mudir area at Saqqara, near the entrance point of the archaeological site. He explained that both tombs are cut into the limestone rock of the hill and the first one is the largest yet found at Saqqara. It is composed of a large rock-hewn hall followed by a number of small rooms and corridors. Outside the tomb on its eastern side are two large walls, the first is made of limestone while the other is of mud brick.

During excavation the team found two rooms full of dust that lead to another hall where a number of coffins, skeletons and pots were found. This hall has a corridor that leads to a smaller room with a seven-meter deep burial shaft. At the tomb’s northern end the team found a room full of clay pots and fragments along with ancient coffins and mummies of eagles.

Early investigations revealed that the tomb dates to the 26th Dynasty and was reused several times during its history. It was likely robbed at the end of the Roman period.

As for the second tomb, the team found a number of clay pots and coffins scattered inside a sealed limestone room.

“This discovery… confirms that the Saqqara area still contains undiscovered secrets,” Hawass said.

Source: Fox News