Egyptian archaeologists have discovered a gilded mummy that had lain sealed in its massive limestone sarcophagus in Cairo’s Saqqara necropolis for 4,300 years, renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass said on Thursday.
The sarcophagus and an almost identical one that is expected to be opened in the coming days, plus 12 statues and pottery, were among finds unveiled by Mr Hawass at a ceremony in Saqqara.
These discoveries date back to the Old Kingdom period of ancient Egypt — from about 2700 BC to 2200 BC.
“To find a mummy that old and that well-preserved in a necropolis that is this prolific is truly a unique thing,” he said.
Gold flakes were found all over the mummy's wrappings, Mr Hawass said, speaking against the backdrop of Saqqara's famed Step Pyramid of Djoser.
The finds were made by a team led by Mr Hawass and another from Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
A number of stone reliefs bearing depictions of ancient Egyptian daily life were also unveiled, some of which were from ancient buried walls that Mr Hawass's team found.
One buried wall remains under the ground intact, Mr Hawass said.
His team has not yet reached the end of it and further excavations will be made in coming weeks to determine its purpose and age.
Two tombs were also unearthed, one belonging to a priest called Meri, which was remarkably well decorated with colourful scenes of ancient Egyptian daily life.
The other belonged to a priest who served King Unas, the last pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty, from 2465BC to 2323BC, as an overseer of his labour force.
Both tombs contained statues and ceramic pots.
The limestone sarcophagus that held the gilded mummy was found at the bottom of a 10m shaft sealed behind a stone door, Mr Hawass said.
The other sarcophagus was found inside a similar shaft nearby.
Clay vessels were found inside both shafts.
“Opening a 4,300-year-old sarcophagus is always an exciting event. That moment when we lift the lid off and peek inside is a moment I have found hard to describe in my writings and teachings,” Mr Hawass said.
He praised the efforts of recent Egyptian archaeological digs, highlighting the recent discovery of the remains of an ancient city believed to have been built during Roman rule of Egypt.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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