Egypt unveils discovery of 4,300-year-old tombs

[gateley]

SAQQARA, Egypt – Egyptian archaeologists on Thursday unveiled a newly-unearthed double tomb with vivid wall paintings in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo, saying it could be the start for uncovering a vast cemetery in the area.

The tomb includes two false doors with colorful paintings depicting the two people buried there, a father and a son who served as heads of the royal scribes, said Abdel-Hakim Karar, a top archaeologist at Saqqara.

"The colors of the false door are fresh as if it was painted yesterday," Karar told reporters.
Humidity had destroyed the sarcophagus of the father, Shendwas, while the tomb of the son, Khonsu, was robbed in antiquity, he said.

Also insribed on the father's false door was the name of Pepi II, whose 90-year reign is believed to be the longest of the pharaohs. The inscription dates the double tomb to the 6th dynasty, which marked the beginning of the decline of the Old Kingdom, also known as the age of pyramids.

Egypt's antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, said the new finds were "the most distinguished tombs ever found from the Old Kingdom," because of their "amazing colors." He said the area, if excavated, could unveil the largest cemetery of ancient Egypt./ snip

More....(and pics, slideshow, video) >>>>>> http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100708/ap_on_sc/ml_egypt_antiquities

[EmilyKent]

1. We seem to be digging up most of Egypt.

I have no idea why. Unless we're conducting a late...very late...census.

[gateley]

2. Ha! I think Zawi Hawass likes seeing his name in print. :-) nt

[gateley]

3. And welcome to DU, EmilyKent!

:hi:

[EmilyKent]

4. Thank you! Fun to be here!

:hi:

[aquart]

7. We do it because what we know is incomplete.

We try to know more.

[gateley]

11. AND Zawi Hawass likes to see his name in print!

:7

[AsahinaKimi]

14. I always loved the way he said

"Pyramid". Made me giggle. I would love to hear him stand there and say it 25 times in a row.
:rofl:

[aquart]

15. So what?

[Raschel]

5. Magnificent colors! But this guy looks like he's on the computer.

http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/Cairo2C-Egypt-Old-Kingdom-Saqqara-false-door/photo//100708/481/urn_publicid_ap_org_c221996e82df4e20ab5c15bf34b9dc2a//s:/ap/20100708/ap_on_sc/ml_egypt_antiquities#photoViewer=/100708/481/urn_publicid_ap_org_c221996e82df4e20ab5c15bf34b9dc2a

[gateley]

6. Wow - you're right -- he really does! Remember the ones that

had "helicopters" in them?

EDIT: -- here:




I wonder if, like us, they had their "science fiction" which in time became "science fact". :shrug:

We're certainly an enterprising species.

[Raschel]

17. I like your theory and I agree. There's nothing new under the sun!

[alfredo]

9. Naw, that's old school: Microfiche.

[gateley]

10. LOL! nt

[alfredo]

12. His life must have been a living hell. Hours of crushing

boredom spent in the basement of the university library, looking for obscure shit.

Now I do it on Google. At least Google has LOL Katz.

[NBachers]

13. He's reading about an offer that will bring him vast riches

[G_j]

8. remarkable

that's old!

[Scurrilous]

16. Amazing. n/t