As reported by Science Alert, an interesting find in Alexandria, Egypt last week went viral, as a 9-foot-long black sarcophagus was exhumed from deep beneath the surface during an archaeological dig. And, at this time, literally nobody knows what or who is inside.
The site noted, “At 185 cm (72.8 inches) tall, 265 cm (104.3 inches) long, and 165 cm (65 inches) wide, it’s the biggest [sarcophagus] ever found in Alexandria. Oh, and then there’s the large alabaster head discovered in the same underground tomb. Experts are assuming it represents whoever is buried in the sarcophagus, though that’s yet to be confirmed.”
According to an expert on creepy things of this nature, the black coffin has not been opened since it was originally sealed over 2,000 years ago. As Science Alert pointed out, this is extraordinarily uncommon when talking about Egyptian tombs, as “archaeologists rarely find a final resting place that’s still intact like this one appears to be.”
They added, “The site as a whole dates back to the Ptolemaic period between 305 BCE and 30 BCE, with this particular find uncovered five metres (16.4 feet) below the ground.”
Now, The Guardian reports that archaeologists in Egypt are planning on opening up the mysterious sarcophagus, despite warnings from horror fans who know how this shit ends.
“We are hoping this tomb may belong to one of the high dignitaries of the period,” said Ayman Ashmawy, the head of ancient Egyptian artifacts at Egypt’s ministry of antiquities. “The alabaster head is likely that of a nobleman in Alexandria. When we open the sarcophagus, we hope to find objects inside that are intact, which will help us to identify this person and their position.”
“It’s risky to open it directly – we need to prepare,” he added, explaining why the sarcophagus wasn’t immediately pried open. “It’s difficult to move it intact and open [it] in a museum. It’s five metres underground and the whole thing weighs over 30 tons. The lid alone is 15 tons.”
First, the sarcophagus needs to be lifted out of the hole it’s been resting in for over 2,000 years, and then experts will be brought in to examine whatever is found underneath the lid.
Good idea? Worst idea ever? We’ll keep you posted…
