Egypt reveals 59 ancient coffins found near Saqqara pyramids

Egypt reveals 59 ancient coffins found near Saqqara pyramids, many of which hold mummies

Samy Magdy Associated Press

USA Today, October 3, 2020

Open Ended

"Egypt reveals 59 ancient coffins found near Saqqara pyramids, many of which hold mummies" What is 1 piece of information that you know based on the title?

CAIRO — Egypt’s tourism and antiquities (ancient past) minster said on Saturday archaeologists have unearthed dozens of ancient coffins in a vast necropolis ( cemetery ) south of Cairo.

Khalid el-Anany said at least 59 sealed sarcophagi (coffins) , with mummies inside most of them, were found that had been buried in three wells more than 2,600 years ago.

Multiple Choice

What continent is Egypt on?

• Antarctica

• Africa

• Australia

Multiple Select

"Egypt’s tourism and antiquities minster said on Saturday archaeologists have unearthed dozens of ancient coffins" Choose 2 phrases that are synonyms for word antiquities?

• Very old

• dead items

• Ancient past

Multiple Choice

How many sarcophagi (coffins) were discovered?

• 15

• 59

• 38

• “I consider this is the beginning of a big discovery,” el-Anany said, adding that there is an unknown number of coffins that have yet to be unearthed in the same area.

  He spoke at a news conference at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara where the coffins were found. The sarcophagi have been displayed and one of them was opened before reporters to show the mummy inside. Several foreign diplomats attended the announcement ceremony.

Multiple Choice

el-Anany is an Egyptian Archaeologist. What is the best definition for archeologist?

• Scientist who study people and cultures of the past

• Scientist who study the inside of people's bodies

• Scientist who study people and technology

Open Ended

Look at this picture. These structures were created 2600 or more years ago. What is one questions you can ask the author?

Multiple Select

"The sarcophagi have been displayed and one of them was opened before reporters to show the mummy inside." Which statement is a reasonable prediction of what will happen next? Click all that apply

• They opened the coffin and a mummy jumped out

• They opened the coffin and there was there was a mummy in it.

• They opened the coffin and there was nothing in it.

The Saqqara plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920 B.C [Before Christ].-2770 B.C.) to the Coptic period (395-642).

Multiple Choice

How many pyramids are there at the The Saqqara plateau?

• 12

• 15

• 11

Multiple Choice

tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920 B.C.-2770 B.C.) What is the tern BC stand for?

• Before Christ

• Before Computers

• Before Cultures Began

• He said archaeologists also found a total of 28 statuettes of Ptah-Soker the main god of the Saqqara necropolis, and a beautifully carved 35 cm tall bronze statuette of god Nefertum, inlaid with precious stones. The name of its owner, Priest Badi-Amun, is written on its base, he said.

  Egyptian antiquities officials had announced the discovery of the first batch coffins last month, when archaeologists found 13 of the containers in a newly discovered 11 meter-deep (36 feet) well.

Multiple Choice

They also found a total of 28 statuettes. What is the root word of statuettes?

• Symbols

• States

• Statues

The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis (cemetery) of Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1970s.

Multiple Choice

Where is the ancient capital of Egypt?

• Cairo

• Memphis

• Giza

• El-Anany said the Saqqara coffins would join 30 ancient wooden coffins that were discovered in October in the southern city of Luxor, and will be showcased at the new Grand Egyptian Museum, which Egypt is building near the Giza Pyramids.

Multiple Choice

Where will the new mummies be displayed?

• Grand Egyptian Museum near Giza

• Grand Egyptian Museum near Luxor

• Grand Egyptian Museum in Alexandria

The Saqqara discovery is the latest in a series of archeological finds that Egypt has sought to publicize in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. The sector was also dealt a further blow this year by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Multiple Choice

Why is Egypt starting to display mummies again?

• To get tourist to come back to Egypt

• To allow people to feel like they are going back in time

• To fill up a new museum with ancient artifacts.

Multiple Choice

Egypt was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprisings. Which words best describe turmoil and uprising?

• peace ,abduction

• calm ,surrender

• disturbance, riot