In October 2020, archaeologists discovered 59 coffins in the necropolis of Saqqara, a UNESCO World Heritage Site 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Covered in intricate designs in vibrant colors, the sarcophagi had not been opened for more than 2,500 years and were extremely well preserved, just like the mummies they contained.

A sensational find: The 30 colorful wooden coffins discovered in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor in 2019 were more than 3,000 years old. Hieroglyphic depictions of snakes, birds and lotus blossoms in black, green, red and yellow were still clearly recognizable; they are believed to have been so well preserved because there were no settlements near the site.

In 1922 in the Valley of the Kings, the British Egyptologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, who ruled from 1332 to 1323 BC. The Pharaoh died at the age of 19. While most graves had been discovered by looters, this tomb was still untouched and filled with treasures. The priceless death mask and the gold-plated coffin are particularly famous.

Reliefs in the Ancient Egyptian temple complex of Dendera show bulb-shaped objects with "wire filaments" running through them. A fringe theory sees this as evidence that ancient Egyptians possessed electrical technology — perhaps even brought by aliens. Serious Egyptologists however view the carvings as representations of mythological symbols.

This stone tablet, discovered in the Nile Delta in 1799, has a text carved in Ancient Greek and one in Ancient Egyptian in two different scripts, Demotic and hieroglyphics. The inscriptions dating back to 196 BC praise the Egyptian king Ptolemy V. The Rosetta Stone famously contributed to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs in 1822.

The bust of the legendary queen was created between 1353 and 1336 BC and found in 1912 during excavations made by the German Orient Society. Even though there is no inscription on the bust, its crown and similarity to other portraits allowed experts to identify it as a representation of Nefertiti. Except for one missing eye, the bust was exceptionally well preserved.

The temples at Abu Simbel were built in the 13th century BC. It was not until 1813 that the Swiss traveler Jean Louis Burckhardt discovered the Great Temple of Ramses II buried in the sand. In the 1960s, the newly created Lake Nasser threatened today's World Heritage Site. The large Ramses Temple and the smaller Hathor Temple in memory of Nefertari had to be relocated.

The Pyramid of Cheops, the oldest and largest of the three pyramids of Giza, was built from 2620 to 2500 BC. It was believed to have been explored from top to bottom — until a high-energy particle radiation scan in 2017 revealed a hidden cavity located above the large gallery and 30 meters (98 feet) long. Paths or tunnels do not lead into the secret chamber, and its purpose is still unclear.

At a presentation in Giza, visitors marvel at some of the finds unearthed by Egyptian archaeologists during recent excavations in the necropolis of Saqqara. Among the treasures of the necropolis are 250 sarcophagi with well-preserved mummies. Saqqara is an important excavation site on the southern bank of the Nile, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mustafa Wasiri presents the treasures. The head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt reports that among the artifacts is a statue of the architect Imhotep. The presumed first great master builder of the Old Kingdom revolutionized architecture in the ancient world. Finding his tomb is one of the main goals of the archaeological mission in Saqqara.

In one of the 250 sarcophagi, archaeologists discovered an untouched and sealed papyrus scroll. Experts suspect that the scroll, estimated at nine meters (30 feet) in length, contains a chapter from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells and incantations intended to guide the dead through the underworld.

The sarcophagi, bronze statues of gods and ritual instruments are to be moved to the Great Egyptian Museum, which is near the Giza pyramids. After repeated delays the authorities plan to inaugurate the new museum this year.

The new find joins a list of recent spectacular discoveries: In February 2021, 16 burial chambers were found on the outskirts of the city of Alexandria. The same month, a 5,000-year-old brewery was discovered in Sohag. In April 2021, the "Lost Golden City" near Luxor followed, and this March, five elaborately decorated burial chambers were presented in Saqqara (seen here in the picture).

Hopes are high in Egypt's government that the archaeological discoveries of recent years and the new monumental museum will help revive tourism. The coronavirus pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine have severely affected the tourism sector, an important source of revenue for Egypt.

Egyptian archeologists unveiled 3,000-year-old coffins in the ancient necropolis of Luxor, saying it was "the first large human coffin cache ever discovered" since the 1800s.

The cache of 30 coffins contains mummies of priests, priestesses, and children. They were buried in the 10th century BC under the rule of the 22nd Pharaonic dynasty.

Egypt has announced a series of spectacular finds in recent months, as the country struggles to rebuild its tourism industry. The sector has suffered greatly since the violent uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and the 2013 military coup against the Islamist government.

Coffins are intricately carved and painted both on the inside and on the outside. Experts boasted their "good condition of preservation, colors, and complete inscriptions."

The southern city of Luxor is a treasure trove for Egyptologists, but discoveries such as the one made in the two-level necropolis at al-Asasif remain rare. The latest discovery prompted comparison with another cache of priests' mummies, which was unveiled in 1891.

The coffins are set to undergo extensive restoration and eventually be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum next to the Giza pyramids, which is set to open in 2020.