Tomb Found Near Pyramids

September 3, 2004

Archaeologists Unearth

Egyptian Tomb

9-1-4

CAIRO (Reuters) -- Archaeologists have found a 2,500-year-old tomb

near Egypt's ancient pyramids in Giza, the head of the excavation team

has told Reuters.

Zahi Hawass, also the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities,

said on Thursday the team located the tomb using radar and then dug to

a depth of about 10 metres (30 feet) before unearthing some of its

contents.

"We still need to excavate another 10 metres before reaching the

sarcophagus and discovering the identity of the occupant, which will

take another one or two months," he said.

The team found a box of 400 small statues which the ancient Egyptians

believed helped the deceased in the afterlife.

Hawass said the tomb from the 26th dynasty was located between the

Sphinx and the Khafre pyramid on the Giza plateau, popular tourist

sites that draw thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.

The pyramids themselves were built about 4,500 years ago, during the

4th dynasty.

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