Roman pottery coffins unearthed at Tal El-Deir site in Egypt's Damietta

An Egyptian Archaeological Mission affiliated by the Ministry of Antiquities that excavates at ‘Tal El-Deir’ site in Damietta announced the discovery of a collection of red cylindrical pottery coffins that date back to the Roman era.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

Dr. Mustafa El-Waziri, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that a number of the unearthed coffins depict apparent facial features of mouth and nose, whilst others have lines and geometrical engravings. The coffins also embrace remains of white carton burial materials that were placed on parts of the deceased body after enshrouding him/her with linen.

Nadia Khader, head of the Central Department of Antiquities in Deir El-Bahary, noted that the mission found various remains of pottery pots and more than 700 amulets of various shapes and materials, some were in the form of Pharaonic Gods Isis, Horus and Taweret in addition to heart shaped ones.

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

Also a collection of different sized cats, golden sheets and five golden rings, three of them were small and topped with grapes cluster the symbol of Greek God Dionysius and Roman God Bacchus of the other world, theatre and wine. Another rings were topped by dolphins that was linked to Sea God Poseidon.

Reda Abu-ElMaati, the General Director of Excavations and Missions in Damietta, added that this season’s excavations are to complete previous ones in which remains of a 26th dynasty necropolis was unearthed, specifically in the time of Pharaohs Psamtik II and Nefr-Ayb-Ra [= Neferibre].

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

Credit: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities

The Director of Damietta Antiquities Sami Eid declared that the cemetery contains many stone coffins, amulets and two ushabti statues that has engravings of Psamtik II’s name, which were transferred to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Source: Egypt. Ministry of Antiquities [December 31, 2018]