Explorers have unearthed an array of ancient coffins in the sprawling Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, heralding the discovery of more than 80 sarcophagi.

The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement that archaeologists found the collection of colorful, sealed caskets, which were buried more than 2,500 years ago.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly and Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khalid el-Anany toured the area and inspected the new discovery yesterday.

Explorers have made another trove of ancient coffins in the vast Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo, announcing the discovery of more than 80 sarcophagi. Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly toured the area and witnessed the findings earlier this week.

Egypt has sought to publicize its archaeological finds in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. Recently, the Egyptian Prime Minister looked inside one of the coffins.

This photo from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities shows Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly looking inside one of the coffins discovered at an ancient burial shaft at a necropolis in Saqqara.

Pictured, Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly (L), Egyptian Minister of Antiquities Khaled el-Anany (C), and Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri (R) looking at a sarcophagus.

Archaeologists also found colorful, gilded wooden statues, the ministry said.

Details of the new discovery will be announced soon in a news conference at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser, it said.

Egypt has sought to publicize its archaeological finds in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising.

The sector was also dealt a further blow this year by the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to more than 80 coffins and mummies, there were various artefacts discovered inside the burial chamber preserved here before the Prime Minister’s presence.

The Tourism and Antiquities Ministry said in a statement that archaeologists had found the collection of colorful, sealed caskets, which were buried more than 2,500 years ago.

More details of the new discovery will be announced soon in a news conference at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egyptian authorities say.

The dramatic find was unearthed south of Cairo in the sprawling burial ground of Saqqara, the necropolis of the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Just over two weeks ago, Egypt revealed 59 sealed sarcophagi, with mummies inside most of them, in the same area of Saqqara.

The Saqqara site is located south of Cairo and the vast burial complex, which also features the step pyramid of Djoser, served the ancient capital of Memphis.

It also includes the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh.

The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.

The plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, along with hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920-2770 B.C.) to the Coptic period (395-642).

Earlier this month, one of dozens of ornately decorated sarcophagi was opened for the first time before assembled media.

The team slowly revealed mummified remains wrapped in burial cloth that bore hieroglyphic inscriptions in bright colors.

The majority of coffins housed mummified remains which initial research suggests would have been priests, top officials, and others in ancient Egyptian society.

All of whom would have likely been subjected to ancient Egypt’s complex burial rituals after they died, including having their brains removed with an iron hook.

Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and Tourism, Dr. Khaled El-Enany, said at the time: ‘I can say most of the discoveries have been made by Egyptian teams on Egyptian soil. This is something I am really impressed that COVID-19 did not stop them from digging to unveil more mystery and secrets about our great civilization.’

The minister said that the coffins would be transported to the Grand Egyptian Museum to be displayed to the public.

Just over two weeks ago, Egypt revealed 59 sealed sarcophagi, with mummies inside most of them, in the same area of Saqqara. This find adds to the enormous trove of historical finds in the African nation.

Archaeologists also found colorful, gilded wooden statues, officials said. Details of the new discovery will be announced soon in a news conference at the famed Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Pictured: A man opens one of the sarcophagi during the unveiling event in front of the media earlier this month. 59 intricately painted coffins have been discovered so far.

The majority of the coffins found at Saqqara so far have contained mummified remains (pictured) of priests, top officials, and elites.

A sarcophagus that is around 2500 years old is seen inside the newly discovered burial site near Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis, in Giza, Egypt, on October 3rd.