Egypt's chief archaeologist exposes mummy preserved inside limestone sarcophagus sealed 2,600 years ago.
SAQQARA, Egypt – Egypt's chief archaeologist has unveiled a completely preserved mummy inside a limestone sarcophagus sealed 2,600 years ago during pharaonic times.
The mummy was exposed for the first time Wednesday. It lies in a narrow shaft 36 feet below ground at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara outside of Cairo.
It is part of a burial chamber discovered three weeks ago that holds eight wooden and limestone sarcophagi, along with 22 other mummies from the 26th Dynasty — Egypt's last independent kingdom.
Laborers used crowbars to lift the sarcophagus' lid and exposed the linen-wrapped mummy inside.
Antiquities chief Zahi Hawass says the mummies are an important discovery and much of Saqqara has yet to be unearthed.
(AP)