The Oldest Mummy with Gold Covered Found in Egypt

VIVA – Egyptian archaeologists uncovered the world's oldest and most complete mummy when it was discovered close to the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The mummy found was estimated to be 4,300 years old, when it was discovered that the surprising thing was that the mummy was in a gold-plated condition. Here are the facts about it.

1. Found Near the Capital of Cairo

This preserved human body was found by Egyptian archaeologists in a newly discovered cemetery near the capital city of Cairo, precisely in a burial area dating back to the fifth and sixth dynasties of Ancient Egypt. At the bottom of a 15-meter (49-foot) pit, a team of archaeologists found the mummy, as reported by the Aljazeera site.

2. Mummy Named Hekashepes

Based on the results of research by a team of Egyptian archaeologists, the mummy is a man named Hekashepes. He died 'covered in gold' and was in a limestone sarcophagus that had been sealed in mortar.

"I put my head inside to see what was inside the sarcophagus: a beautiful mummy of a man completely covered in gold. This is probably the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date," said team director Zahi Hawass.

In addition, another tomb was found belonging to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of officials, a supervisor of nobles, and a priest during the reign of Unas, the last pharaoh of the fifth dynasty. The tomb was decorated with drawings of places of daily life.

Hawass added, there are other tombs that were also found were the tombs of secret guards and assistants to the leaders of large palaces at that time. The third tomb found belonged to a priest in the palace complex of Pharaoh Pepi I, and the fourth belonged to a judge and writer named Fetek.

According to Mostafa Waziri, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Council, Fetek's tomb is the largest collection of statues ever found in the area. In addition to the tombs of officials, many statues were also found, including those of a man and his wife and several servants.