The remains from the black sarcophagus have been analyzed. There are a few surprises

Scientists analyzed three skeletons found in a mysterious sarcophagus discovered in Alexandria in early July. The bones belonged to two men and a woman. Also found inside were three pieces of gold with drawings engraved on them.

In early July in Alexandria, workers preparing the site for construction stumbled upon a large sarcophagus made of black granite. The sarcophagus is 2.7 meters long, 1.5 m. width and weighing about 30 tons. Even before the opening, it was speculated that such a massive sarcophagus must belong to someone very important, perhaps Alexander the Great.

After opening the sarcophagus at the end of July, researchers found three skeletons submerged in a reddish slush inside it. It turned out that there was a crack in the mortar of the sarcophagus, whichóThe remains were brought into the. Near the sarcophagus was found a bust made of alabaster. The researchers concluded that it may represent a human being, whichóry was buried in a mysterious sarcophagus. However, it is in very poor condition and nothing can be read from it.

After the remains were takenóinto the laboratory and examined them, it turned out that they belonged to twoóch men and women, któwho lived in the early Ptolemaic period. Archaeologists already believed that the sarcophagus dates back to the Ptolemaic dynasty that ruled Egypt from 305 to 30 p.n.e. The founder of the dynasty was one of the chiefsóin the army of Alexander the Great – Ptolemy I Soter. Hence the earlier speculation that the sarcophagus móhead include the remains of Alexander the Great.

The lack of inscriptions or markings seems to rule out that który with a skeletonów belongs to a member of the królewska. Skeletons found in the sarcophagus probably belonged to warriorsów – acknowledged the archaeologists. But the skeleton of a woman shatters researchers’ conceptions, because the ancient Egyptian military usually did not include women – with the rare exception of królevski restorationódcy.

Who were these people? It is still unclear, but analysis of their bones mówi a bit more on this topic. The woman was between 20 and 25 years old at the time of her death and was 164 centimeters tall. Both men were older; the first was in his 40s at the time of his death and measured 165.5 centimeters tall. The second was about 5 years older, and his height was 184.5 centimeters.

The skeleton of an elderly man has caught the interest of scientistsów. A small hole was found in its skullór with a diameter of 2.5 cm, który had clearly healed. Researchers believe he was likely the result of a practice called trepanation – the deliberate drilling of a hole in the skull to cure rótive ailments, including bólóin head, epilepsy or hypertension.

– This operation appears to be the oldest surgical intervention since timeóIn prehistoric, but in Egypt it was rare – said Zeinab Hashish of Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities. So far, only a few skulls from ancient Egypt have been found with trepanation holes.

Archaeologists believe the róAlso that the bodies were buried in rós ancient times, as the skeletons were stacked on top of each other.

Photo. Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities

Although no inscriptions were found on the sarcophagus, but inside three small pieces of gold were discovered with images engraved on them. One of the drawingsów seem to depict a snake, another an ear of grain. There is also a drawing thatóry may be a representation of the headópoppy wks. Opium was used quite extensively in Egypt for targetsóin therapeutic

Jack Ogden – Egyptian jewelry specialist – In an interview with Live Science, he stressed that zarówell the image of a snake was used in funerary rituals. – Snakes shed skóhand, which is why they have connotations of rebirth – Ogden said. The drawing, which depicts a palm branch or an ear of grain, is also associated with the revival of the. – Both are common motifs associated with fertility and rebirth, Ogden admitted.

Researchers will now detailólarly examine the gold artifacts, perhaps they will be able to determine something more. Further analysis of the bones will also be carried out, including with the help of CT scans. Researchers also want to do DNA tests to determine whether the remains found in the sarcophagus are related to each other.