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New mummies discovered in tomb near Luxor, Egypt

Reuters An Egyptian antiquities worker works on a coffin in the recently discovered tomb of Amenemhat, a goldsmith from the New Kingdom, at the Draa Abu-el Naga necropolis near the Nile city of LuxorReuters
The tomb belonged to a man named Amenemhat

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the tomb of a royal goldsmith containing the mummies of a woman and her two children, authorities said.

The tomb, dating back to the New Kingdom (16th to 11th Centuries BC), was found near the Nile city of Luxor, 400 miles (700km) south of Cairo.

Among the items discovered inside was a statue of the goldsmith Amenemhat, sitting beside his wife.

It is unclear whether the three mummies discovered are connected to Amenemhat.

The mummies were found down a burial shaft leading off the main chamber, Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities said.

EPA Egyptian archaeologists work on mummies at a recently discovered tomb in the Draa Abul Nagaa necropolis, Luxor's West Bank, 700km south of Cairo, Egypt, 9 September 2017EPA
The tomb was found in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis, which was used for officials

According to the archaeologists, the mother died aged about 50, with tests revealing she had a bacterial bone disease. Her two sons were in their 20s and 30s and their bodies said to have been preserved in good condition.

Authorities believe the tomb of Amenemhat, who was goldsmith for the god Amun, the period's most powerful deity, could lead them to further discoveries in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis, an area famed for its temples and burial grounds.

Minister of Antiquities Khaled al-Anani said: "We found many objects of the funerary equipment inside and outside the tomb. We found mummies, coffins, funerary combs, funerary masks, some jewellery, and statue.

"The work did not finish yet."

Reuters Skulls and hands are seen next to coffin in the recently discovered tomb of Amenemhat, a goldsmith from the New Kingdom, at the Draa Abu-el Naga necropolisReuters
The bodies of the male mummies are said to be in good condition

Mr Anani said archaeologists had read four new names.

"What about those four new names? How about their tombs? Their tombs are not discovered yet. But I believe they are owners of the tomb," he said.

"I believe, inshallah, for the coming season, we are going to do our excavations. We are going to do our excavations in this area. So I believe we can find one, or two or maybe four if we are going to be very lucky, four of them in this area."

EPA A carved sandstone statue depicting the tomb's owner Amenemhat sitting on a high back chair beside his wife at a recently discovered tomb in the Draa Abul Nagaa necropolis, Luxor's West Bank, 700km south of Cairo,EPA
Amenemhat's son is depicted as sitting between him and his wife
Reuters Egyptian antiquities worker brushes a coffin in a recently discovered tomb of Amenemhat, a goldsmith from the New Kingdom at the Draa Abu-el NagaReuters
The discovery is the second big find for archaeologists in the area this year