"Today, we did announce the discovery of 59 wooden coffins in perfect condition of preservation," the minister said at a media presentation.
According to the minister, archaeologists discovered three shafts of 10-12 meters where the wooden coffins were stacked one on top of the other at the sprawling necropolis of Saqqara south of Cairo.
Egypt Announces Discovery of 59 Ancient Sarcophagi Preserved in Good Condition
© REUTERS / MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY
The sarcophagi in question contain mummies of pharaohs, priests and high-ranking officials from the 7th Century BC, when the 26th dynasty of the New Kingdom ruled Egypt, al-Anany explained.
According to the minister, Saqqara was a sacred site for ancient Egyptians where nobility was buried for millennia, meaning there are many more discoveries to be made.