Tomb Found Near Pyramids

09-03-2004, 11:23 AM

Archaeologists Unearth
Egyptian Tomb
9-1-4

CAIRO (Reuters) -- Archaeologists have found a 2,500-year-old tomb
near Egypt's ancient pyramids in Giza, the head of the excavation team
has told Reuters.

Zahi Hawass, also the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities,
said on Thursday the team located the tomb using radar and then dug to
a depth of about 10 metres (30 feet) before unearthing some of its
contents.

"We still need to excavate another 10 metres before reaching the
sarcophagus and discovering the identity of the occupant, which will
take another one or two months," he said.

The team found a box of 400 small statues which the ancient Egyptians
believed helped the deceased in the afterlife.

Hawass said the tomb from the 26th dynasty was located between the
Sphinx and the Khafre pyramid on the Giza plateau, popular tourist
sites that draw thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.

The pyramids themselves were built about 4,500 years ago, during the
4th dynasty.

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