Coffins are probably one of the most widely recognized signs that indicate the presence of an ancient civilization. This is partly because the rich and wealthy people of these ancient civilizations put a lot of effort into making good coffins, some of which have survived to this day. Coffins, however, are only a small part of the archaeological evidence that is needed to gather sufficient information about any lost civilization. Remains of large structures such as the pyramids or the Gobekli Tepe are highly valued pieces of archaeology. The search for such artefacts and structures continues across the world as we have come to realize that there still secrets to be uncovered.
As part of a similar effort, authorities in Egypt have recovered an unusual cache of 13 wooden coffins, which have been dated to 2500 years ago or about 500 BCE. The discovery was made on the vast burial grounds of Saqqara in Egypt. A large number of coffins have been recovered from the same tomb complex; however, this set of coffins is making waves because they have remained intact for millennia. The seal on these coffins is intact, which in itself is an impressive feat.
The announcements from the Government of Egypt have revealed that the coffins were found in a burial shaft 11 meters below the ground. The artefacts were stacked on top of each other. The archaeologists are baffled by the level of preservation that can be seen on these artefacts. For example, some of the colours painted on the wood are still visible. The researchers have found more inundations in the walls of the shaft. This could be an indication that there are many such artefacts in the burial complex which are yet to be unearthed.
Saqqara is believed to be the common burial location for the ancient city of Memphis. The city in question served as the capital of the ancient Egyptian civilization for 3000 years. The interest of historians and researchers from all across the globe is very much implied here. The coffins have been found with many other goods, which include mummified animals, which is a sign of burial that only the nobility received. However, there were coffins of a much simpler nature as well. This means that neither nobles nor the working-class held exclusive rights to the use of the specific burial shaft.
The ancient Egyptian civilization is long gone now. A long time ago, they shared extravagant trade relations with a lot of ancient civilizations, including those in India. Now almost all of them are gone, paving way for new civilizations and evolution. The fact that we can find out anything about these ancient civilizations stands as a testimony of modern scientific prowess.
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