Archaeologists in Egypt have opened a mysterious, massive black granite sarcophagus uncovered in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, revealing a well-preserved mummy of a sacred cow inside.

The 90-ton coffin was found buried deep beneath the sands at the ancient palace of the dead in Saqqara, located south of Cairo. The huge stone coffin was intact but had no inscriptions or carvings on its surface.

Given its size and location in the renowned Saqqara burial complex, archaeologists believed the sarcophagus could contain the remains of an important ancient royal. However, upon opening the giant coffin, they were surprised to find the mummy of a cow.

Ancient Egyptians mummified and revered many animals as incarnations of gods and goddesses. The mummified cow is believed to have been an offering to a sky goddess, buried in the sprawling city-sized cemetery of Saqqara over 4,000 years ago.

The discovery of the colossal stone coffin adds to the intrigue of Saqqara, an ancient Egyptian necropolis packed with tombs, pyramids and temples. Ruled over by the deity Anubis, Saqqara served as the burial grounds for Memphis, the capital of ancient Egypt.

Researchers plan to use modern scanning technology to get a closer look at the contents of the red sarcophagus and gather more insights into its history. The perfectly sealed coffin is the largest yet found in Saqqara, raising questions about who was meant to be buried inside.

The reveal of the sacred cow mummy deepens the mystery surrounding the ancient Egyptian palace of the dead. Further exploration of the vast Saqqara will continuing uncovering secrets from Egypt’s past.