In an exciting new discovery, a team of archaeologists in Egypt have opened a set of ancient coffins that have remained sealed for over 2,500 years. The ornately decorated coffins were buried thousands of years ago and have miraculously stayed untouched until now.

The coffins were originally discovered last year in a vast necropolis, or “city of the dead”, in the sprawling Saqqara complex south of Cairo. Within this burial ground, the coffins were located in two deep burial shafts dating back to the Late Period of ancient Egypt, around 500 BCE.

After months of careful excavation, archaeologists were finally able to access the interior of the coffins without disturbing them. What they found inside surpassed their expectations.

The coffins contained well-preserved mummies of ancient Egyptian priests and children. The lavish coffins were richly decorated with intricate carvings and paintings on wood depicting Egyptian gods and goddesses. The priests were buried alongside gilded wooden masks and ornate knives for use in the afterlife.

Many artifacts, like the mummies’ delicate silk clothing, still remain intact after 25 centuries buried in Egypt’s arid climate. The mummies’ facial features are also still discernible. This remarkable preservation will help researchers study details about how the ancient Egyptians mummified their dead.

By analyzing the coffins’ artwork, hieroglyphs, and contents, archaeologists gain better insights into Egyptian religious rituals and beliefs around death. The discovery provides a rare glimpse into this influential civilization millennia after it disappeared.

Further exploration of the Saqqara necropolis is planned, as researchers expect to make more discoveries about how Egyptians prepared for the afterlife. The opening of these 2,500-year-old coffins marks a major milestone in Egyptology.