Giant mysterious black sarcophagus found in Egypt

Mystery surrounds black granite sarcophagus found with alabaster head

Archaeologists have discovered a black granite sarcophagus in an ancient cemetery deep underneath Alexandria, Egypt.

Also found was an alabaster head, thought to belong to the tomb's owner.

The mysterious coffin is 265cm (104in) long, 185cm (72in) tall, and 165cm (65in) wide, making it the largest that has ever been found in the city of Alexandria.

Under Egyptian law, due to the vast history which is associated with the country, construction firms are required to commission an archaeological dig on site before they begin building.

A layer of mortar between the lid and the body of the sarcophagus indicated it had not been opened since being closed in antiquity, Supreme Council of Antiquities general secretary Dr Mostafa Waziri said.

The nearly three-metre long by two-metre high sarcophagus was discovered in a long-concealed tomb below the earth during a survey of a plot of land for a building construction.

The next step is for researchers to find out what is inside the coffin without damaging it.

For thousands of years, similar Egyptian tombs have been plundered by grave robbers, so when archeologists have made similar discoveries in the past, sarcophagi have often been found ripped open. The tomb was found in the city's Sidi Gaber district and researchers believe the site dates back to the Ptolemaic period between 305 BCE and 30 BCE.

But even if the tomb has no connection to the ruler, it is still a significant find as it is relatively rare to find an unopened sarcophagus in Alexandria, according to Smithsonian.com. Just me? Well, great news if you're me: a huge 2,000-year-old sarcophagus has been unearthed in Egypt and, so far, we have no idea what's inside it.

Image: The alabaster head could be the owner the tomb.

Related News:

13 July 2018

Engineered Cancer Cells Can Fight Cancer, Brigham And Women's Researchers Find
The specially engineered tumor cells were made with a "kill switch' that would kill them after they presumably killed the tumor". The development of novel prevention and treatment strategies has dramatically improved cancer survival rates.

13 July 2018

Mission: Impossible Fallout Movie Review - A Top-Notch Entry in an All-Timer Franchise
Mission Impossible Fallout is releasing on July 27 but there were a few lucky ones, who managed to watch it many days before. Now what we gathered from the trailer is, Tom Cruise or Ethan Hunt is not so kicked to have Henry Cavill on his side.

13 July 2018

Trump praises Merkel at summit hours after he ripped Germany
Before departing for England on Thursday, Trump signed a joint declaration that reaffirmed America's role in the alliance. The UK announced on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, that it would almost double the number of troops it deploys to Afghanistan.
13 July 2018

Michael Flynn 'eager' for sentencing in lying case, attorney says
Flynn stepped down as Trump's national security adviser in February 2017 and pleaded guilty in December . Federal Judge Emmitt Sullivan told Flynn that he could be sentenced as soon as late October.

13 July 2018

NASA needs backup plan as USA crew launches slip
Pictured here is the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft, a human-rated version of which is being developed to bring astronauts to space. NASA has been paying Russian Federation up to $82 million a seat to ferry U.S. astronauts to and from the ISS.

13 July 2018

Trump demands increase in military spending
Merkel bristled at the idea that the gas deal has left her country "captive" to Moscow. Germany now spends about 1.2 percent, while the USA spends about 3.6 percent.
13 July 2018

Xherdan Shaqiri will have a medical with Liverpool on Friday
The Reds start their new Premier League campaign against West Ham on August 12. The Mirror says Liverpool face competition from Lazio for Shaqiri.

13 July 2018

Chu Ready to Adapt Thai Rescue Story
Responding to user comments, he added, "Those days of letting [whitewashing] happen are over". The studio said that the film would be directed by Jon Chu, an American.

13 July 2018

Mutinous migrants land in Italy after threatening to kill their rescuers
France has taken in a much smaller share of migrants in recent years than neighboring Germany or Italy . Italy's transport minister said some migrants made death threats against the crew.
13 July 2018

Martin wins Stage 6 of Tour de France, Van Avermaet keeps lead
He was one of eight top Tour contenders to gain some handy time that may prove vital come the Tour finish in Paris on July 29. The Dutchman was seventh going into this stage only 13 seconds behind Van Avermaet but will now be a minute behind.

13 July 2018

Nicki Minaj gives Cardi B $5,000 gift basket for baby Kulture
We also called the store, and an employee confirmed neither Nicki nor anyone on her team bought any items from them. Cardi is a mom for the first time while Offset has now added a fourth child to his family tree.

13 July 2018

Trump Says There 'Might Be an Escalation' Between US, Iran
Russia, China and the big European powers say they still back the 2015 multinational nuclear deal with Iran , despite U.S. Belgian authorities are also seeking Assadi's extradition over the alleged plot.