Roman tombs unearthed in southwest Egypt

Kharga (Egypt), Aug 23 (IANS/AKI) Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered five Roman tombs and artefacts including pottery and a funerary mask in the desert in southwest Egypt, the Ministry of Antiquities said.

The finds were made at the Beir al-Shaghala site, located to the west of Mout city, some three km from Dakhla Oasis in Egypt's Western Desert.

The tombs are built in mud brick and the first has a rectangular entrance leading to a burial chamber, according to Ayma Ashmawi, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Department.

The second tomb has as domed ceiling and its entrance also leads to a burial chamber, Ashmawi said.

Only the upper part of the third tomb had been excavated and it has a pyramid shape, he noted.

The fourth and fifth tombs share the same entrance area and each tomb has a separate burial chamber with a vaulted ceiling, Ashmawi explained.

Artefacts found inside the tombs included parts of a mask of a human face made of gypsum and coloured yellow, a set of pottery vessels of different shapes and sizes, and two plates including one with hieroglyphics writings, and a second one written in the cursive Hieratic script used by scribes.

A clay incense burner and a small part of the base of a 14 cm x 12.5 cm sandstone statue in the form of sphinx were also discovered inside the tombs, Director General of antiquities for Middle Egypt, Gamal al-Semestawi said.

The archaeological team previously unearthed eight other tombs dating back to the Roman era that were well preserved and with a similar architectural design, according mission chief Magdi Ibrahim.