Dozens of mummified cats, beetles unearthed in 6,000-year-old Egyptian tombs

In an interesting new discovery, archeologists have unearthed dozens of mummified cats, rare scarab beetles, and 100 gilded cat statutes in over 6,000-year-old Egyptian tombs.

Dozens of cat mummies and a rare collection of mummified scarab beetles have recently been discovered in seven sarcophagi, some even dating back to over 6,000 years, at a site on the edge of the pyramid complex in Saqqara, south of Cairo.

Though the discovery might be astonishing, mummified animals aren’t really unusual. Millions of sacred mummified animals including crocodiles, cats, dogs, and ibis have been unearthed in Ancient Egypt, reported Science Alert.

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The finding of mummified scarab beetles was, however, rare which was even decorated with scarab imagery. “The (mummified) scarab is something really unique. It is something really a bit rare. A couple of days ago, when we discovered those coffins, they were sealed coffins with drawings of scarabs. I never heard about them before,” said Secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri.

According to The Guardian, three of the tombs were used for cat mummies, whereas, one of the remaining four was sealed. The intact door suggested that the contents inside the tomb are most probably untouched. Waziri informed that experts plan to open up the door in coming weeks.

The first sarcophagus was carved from limestone with covered with a vaulted lid decorated with three scarabs painted in black. It contained two large scarabs preserved and wrapped up in linen. The second sarcophagus was filled with a number of smaller scarabs.

Other than the mummified animals, painted wooden sarcophagi of snakes containing mummies, and two wooden crocodile sarcophagi were also recovered, along with hundreds of faience amulets dedicated to various gods. Gilded animal statues, canopic jars, writing tools, several papyri, chapters from the Book of the Dead, and names of two unknown women inscribed were also among the artifacts found.