At the Jebel necropolis tunnel in Minya, Egypt, archaeologists began digging 30 feet below the surface in early 2019. Their efforts paid off when they discovered a series of tombs deep in the ground. However, their discovery didn’t end there. Upon opening the chambers, the archaeologists were stunned to find a burial ground containing fifty mummies, making their find truly unique.
It’s important to note that ancient Egypt was not a single nation with a border, but was divided into lower Egypt and upper Egypt. The tomb containing the fifty mummies was found close to the line of division. The city of Herakleopolis, which was once a major city and provincial capital, was located nearby. Although it remained after the Romans conquered Egypt, it met its demise due to the Muslim conquest in the 7th century AD.
Herakleopolis was once second only to Thebes in its opulence, which may explain why archaeologists have since uncovered so much from this ancient metropolitan area. The discovery of the tomb with fifty millennia-old mummies is just one example of the many fascinating finds that continue to be unearthed in Egypt.
