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A few years ago, an oasis in the middle of the desert 230 miles southwest of Cairo yielded a spectacular discovery: a group of intact Egyptian tombs containing at least 60 gilded mummies, and perhaps hundreds more. In this extraordinary book, archaeologist Zahi Hawass, Director of the Giza Pyramids and Field Director of the Bahariya Oasis excavation, reveals his first-hand experiences at this unprecedented site, with an exciting narrative liberally illustrated with photographs taken during the excavation.
The Valley of the Golden Mummies came to light by accident, when a donkey stumbled across a hole in the sand. The tombs containing the mummies date to the first and second centuries AD, when Egypt was ruled by Rome. They were found in a pristine state, with no indication that the graves had been looted like so many other ancient Egyptian burial sites. Astonishingly, these mummies look much as they did two thousand years ago, their elaborate masks and chest plates decorated with gold, painted images and hieroglyphic inscriptions. These are not royal remains but rather the mummies of wealthy individuals, probably merchants who traded in wine, dates and other riches of the oasis and who appear to have been buried in family groups, surrounded by funerary objects, jewellery and other artifacts.
After providing valuable historical context for the find, including a fascinating history of mummification in ancient Egypt. Dr. Hawass speculates about how much we may learn from this unique find, which gained worldwide attention when it was made public in 1999, He estimates that there may be as many as 10,000 mummies at the site, which could take several decades to excavate completely, and he is confident that they will reveal a great deal of new information about life in Egypt during the Roman occupation. At the time of publication, only five mummies have been removed from the tombs...
Large hard cover book
Covered in protective plastic
Excellent condition
Stunning display piece
Condition: Good
