A goldmine': mummies' secrets uncovered in Egypt

[mfcorey1]

Deep below the sands of the Saqqara necropolis, archaeologists have uncovered a unique discovery they say reveals the secrets of the ancient Egyptian mummies.

A mummification workshop and adjoining burial shaft as well as five mummies, their bejewelled sarcophagi, figurines, and a gilded silver and onyx mummy mask were all unearthed at the site, which archeologists say provides a wealth of new knowledge about the mummification process.

“We are standing before a goldmine of information,” said Dr Ramadan Badry Hussein, director of the Saqqara Saite Tombs Project which oversees the excavation. Hussein beamed as he stood before a crowd of journalists and diplomats who had gathered at the dig site, in the shadow of the step pyramid of Djoser, to view the new finds.

“This [discovery] is so important as it’s extensive. We have oils and measuring cups – all of them are labelled … from this we can find the chemical composition of the oils and discover what they are,” he said.

The embalming workshop and adjoining 30-metre (100ft) burial shaft, dating from the Saite-Persian period (664-404 BC), also give clues about their ancient inhabitants’ former status.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/14/a-goldmine-mummies-secrets-uncovered-in-egypt

[bobbieinok]

1. Calling Amelia Peabody! Calling Amelia Peabody!

I was saddened to learn that Elizabeth Peters had died. Her books, and those she wrote under her other pen name Barbara Michaels, are a continuous delight, worth many re-reads!

[sinkingfeeling]

3. Absolutely agree. When I went to Egypt in 2012, I was constantly

picking out places I was sure Amelia had been working at. I even took a picture of 3 people on horseback by the Giza pyramids that I labelled the family.

[bobbieinok]

5. I heard Peters took a group of fans on a tour of archeological sites in Egypt some yrs ago

One of her best non-Egyptian books is Summer of My Dragon.

[Lars39]

7. iirc, it's her first Amelia adventure that is featured

in the Egyptian display at the Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

[bobbieinok]

11. Wish I were able to see that!!

[Lars39]

12. It's just her paperback book under glass, but I was so pleased to see it.

Seems like an obelisk was involved.

[Demsrule86]

18. I enjoyed that book too...I like the Vicky Bliss series too...and Camelot Caper where John the love

interest and thief is introduced before he appears in the first Vicky bliss book . I also like the Barbara Michaels books particularly Houses of Stone.

[mcar]

8. I loved those books!

Always wished they'd be made into a BBC series.

[Demsrule86]

19. The last book was finished not long ago by Joan Hess who also writes mysteries. And she did a good

job I liked it...The painted Queen. I love mysteries.

[RandomAccess]

2. Fascinating

When I was a kid, my parents would take me to the St. Louis Art Museum. Of all those trips, and all that "art," the only thing I remember because it was my main fascination is their mummy.

Oh, I seem to remember they also had a suit of knight's armour.

[bobbieinok]

6. I remember that mummy and armor from a trip to StLouis on visit to mom's family in 1940s

[RandomAccess]

9. Wow

Sounds like a long time ago, but in truth -- my trips would've been in the mid to late 50s.

That also sounds like a long time ago. Sigh, mainly because it was.

I'm pleased though that someone else was as impressed as I was!

[bobbieinok]

10. I think I was just the right age for a mummy to make a major impression

I remrmber a lot about that trip. We took a day trip with some relatives on the SSAdmiral, went to the zoo. An uncle got us a new treat--Neapolitan ice cream. An aunt made us blueberry buckle. We discovered cheese-cake. And one of my brothers discovered long ropes of black licorice. And we saw some nuns that had fantastic head-dresses like wings.

It was one of the very few trips we made to visit mom's relatives, so I think the whole experience really stuck in my mind

[RandomAccess]

13. Sounds like a great trip

filled with MANY St. Louis highpoints -- the licorice was made there, I'd completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it. The Admiral used to be a must for every summer, sometime. And the zoo -- home of Marlin Perkins. My mother said she'd take me to the zoo and I'd watch the people (as the true People Watcher I am by nature). Fabulous zoo.

Where did you visit from??

[BumRushDaShow]

14. "And the zoo -- home of Marlin Perkins."

Damn... that just jogged some memories of this -

[RandomAccess]

15. Yep

When my son was a toddler I used to turn on Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers -- but no, he wanted Wild Kingdom.

A number of years later in a discussion about his love of animals, I said, "Well, you'll just have to be a zoo keeper when you grow up -- like Marlin Perkins."

He immediately shot back, "No, then I'd have to clean the cages." LOL. I explained to him that the zookeeper didn't do that, but I'm not sure I convinced him.

[BumRushDaShow]

21. Bwah!

[bobbieinok]

16. From our home in Oklahoma. Mom and dad met at the U of MO, she from Pine Lawn,he from Tulsa

[RandomAccess]

20. Oh. cool

I have nieces in OK.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

4. Call Giorgio

Ancient Alien alert

[Demsrule86]

17. I love the Amelia Peabody books...read them all re-read them sometimes.

Peters who's real name was Mertz I think had such a sense humor and was so knowledgeable on many different topic...just loved all of her books read them all. I read the Barbara Michaels books as well...her pseudonym. I have always been fascinated with Egypt and mummies...