Archaeologists found the mummy of the young bride with a dowry
Intact ancient burial was discovered by archaeologists in the area of the Egyptian city of Luxor. In it was the mummy of a young girl numerous jewels. Experts say that most likely, many precious rings, chains and earrings were part of her wedding attire and trousseau.
The girl was a pair of copper earrings fine workmanship in the form of spirals, two rings and four necklaces.
As found by the archaeologists, the girl lived in Ancient Egypt during the period of the 17th kingdoms between 1580 and 1550 BC, in Addition to jewelry, a significant finding was a pair of well-preserved ancient Egyptian sandals.
Archaeologists conducted excavations on the site of the future building near Luxor. According to the Egyptian laws, archaeological surveys prior to construction is necessary because we are talking about places where it is possible to detect the traces of ancient civilizations. Excavations were in the area where previously were found dumping the 18th dynasty.
It was there that he discovered a small wooden coffin the size of a little more than 160 cm, wrapped in a cotton cloth. According to archaeologists, the mummy was poorly preserved, in contrast to the sarcophagus. Scientists believe it was produced in a period when Lower Egypt was ruled by the representatives of the peoples from the group of the Hyksos, and the power of the pharaohs was applied only to Thebes and their surroundings.
The sarcophagus was made of sycamore and painted red. It was discovered on Luxor's West Bank, near the necropolis of Draa Naga Abdel. Despite the fact that the mummy was virtually entirely destroyed by time, the jewelry the girl was untouched.
However, despite poor preservation of the mummy, scientists were able to establish that the girl, born 3500 years ago, was 15-16 years old, and her height was about 1.5 meters. The jewelry that was on the girl, was usually given to the bride at the wedding and was part of her dowry.
One of the discovered her rings were made from bone, another metal inserted into it a piece of blue glass. Four chains of beads were combined into a single necklace with glazed ceramic buckles. Each of the chains, embellished with stones, different from the other, their length ranged from 50 to 70 centimeters.
Some beads are made of stones of different shades of blue — from light blue to purple, others green stones with glass, another one — from the unusual stones of various shades. In them there are amethysts, cornelians, amber, glass and quartz beads. Chain length of about 60 inches consists of 74 beads and two amulets, one of which depicts the God Horus. The fourth necklace consists of several rows of beads, connected by two rings.
Near the sarcophagus was a second, miniature sarcophagus, inside of which lay wrapped in a linen cloth, a wooden figure of "ushabti" used during the funeral rite. In addition, in the sarcophagus showed a well-preserved pair of sandals and two leather ball on a string, used for games, popular among young girls in Ancient Egypt.
Sandals painted in red and decorated with images of the God BES, a goddess Tauret, two cats, Alpine goat and roses.
In his opinion, the value of the things found in the sarcophagus, unusually high.
Strange for scientists was and the type of burial: according to them, the sarcophagus was just left on the ground along with a few others.
According to scientists, however, coffins were not abandoned by the ancient Egyptians, and much later by looters who probably was caught in the excavations of the tombs, and they were forced to flee, leaving the loot.
Keywords: Archaeology | Mummy | Outfit | Bride