Archaeologists have discovered an enormous black granite sarcophagus in Egypt, with the million-dollar question being: Who's in the box? The largest sarcophagus to ever be found in the city of Alexandria, Egypt, at almost 9 feet long and 5 feet wide, the ominous black tomb likely belonged to someone of standing, Science Alert reports.
Two more details make the find even more mysterious. The first is the large, roughly-sculpted white alabaster head found in the ground with the sarcophagus — presumably a bust of whoever is inside. Then there is the layer of mortar between the lid of the sarcophagus and the rest of the tomb, indicating that it hasn't been opened in the 2,000 years since it was sealed. That's particularly rare for Egypt, where looters have been rampant for millennia, Smithsonian reports.
The burial dates back to the era of Ptolemies, between 305 and 30 B.C. While scientists have yet to open the sarcophagus, this much is certain: Even more secrets must lie inside.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
