Egyptian archeologists have unearthed a rare find — an enormous black granite sarcophagus said to be the largest ever found in Alexandria, Egypt.
And they don’t know who or what lies inside.
The 6-foot tall (185 cm) coffin was found buried about 16 feet (5 meters) underground, along with an alabaster head of a man whose features were worn beyond recognition.
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Archaeologists date the site back to sometime within the Ptolemic era, between 305 and 30 BCE.
A worn alabaster bust was also found at the site. Credit: Egypt Ministry of Antiquities
Ancient Greek and Roman artifacts are not unusual discoveries in Alexandria, the famed home of Macedonian ruler Alexander the Great. But unlike other ancient Egyptian tombs that have been opened and looted, the 2,000-year-old sarcophagus has until now, remained undisturbed.
The granite sarcophagus is 6 feet tall, 8.7 feet long and 5.4 feet wide. Credit: Egpyt Ministry of Antiquities
The tomb’s reported preservation could give archaeologists a rare opportunity to study its contents.
CNN has reached out to the Ministry of Antiquities and UNESCO for comment.
Source : Nbcnewyork
