Bizarre Roman‑Era Tomb With Odd Tokens, Mummies Discovered in Egypt
Deep within Egypt's Minya Governorate, archaeologists have unearthed a bizarre discovery at the historic Al-Bahnasa site.
Archaeologists have found a Roman-era tomb, in which are interred mummies with golden tongues. The remarkable discovery, made during a joint Egyptian-Spanish dig undertaken by the University of Barcelona and the Institute of the Ancient Near East, was announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Excavation leaders Maite Mascort Roca and Esther Pons Mellado confirmed that the tomb contained the remains of “several Roman mummies,” which were wrapped in intricately woven linen decorated with geometric patterns. The remains contained the head of an infant as well as that of a “feline species.” Alongside their coffins and within the tomb itself were a collection of funerary tokens, amongst which were three golden tongues and one made of copper. These were commonly placed within the mouths of the deceased so that they could speak in the afterlife. Within one of the mummies, archaeologists discovered a piece of rolled papyrus containing a passage from Book II of Homer’s The Iliad known as the “Catalogue of Ships.”
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities)
These Are the First Human Remains Found in the City
In another tomb, known as Tomb 65, researchers found more mummies as well as golden tongues buried within elaborately decorated wooden coffins in an underground chamber. However, these relics were in substantially worse condition due to a number of lootings over the years. Also discovered in this room were a small jar containing the cremated remains of two people, as well as animal bones.
“These findings provide new insights into the religious practices and funerary traditions of the Ptolemaic era in Al-Bahnasa,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, added that the excavation has uncovered never-before-seen evidence of funerary practices, which will help researchers further understand the Greek and Roman periods at Al-Bahnasa. The city, historically known as Oxyrhynchus, was a major hub during the Greco-Roman era and has long been known for its significant papyri discoveries. However, this excavation marks the first time that human remains have been discovered at Al-Bahnasa.