Egyptian archaeologists have discovered painted wooden coffins that date to the era of Ramses II (1279-1212 BC), Egypt's antiquities chief said Thursday, according to dpa. "These coffins were found in tombs of senior officials near Saqqara," and some of them dated to the sixth century BC, said Zahi Hawass, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Head of the archaeological team, Ola al-Ogeizi, said several statues representing the owners of the coffins were also found in the tombs, indicating that more than one person was to be buried in each tomb. The teams also discovered tunnels that contained carved stones, she said. The Saqqara area is a vast, ancient burial ground, 30 kilometres south of Cairo, featuring the world's oldest standing step pyramid. There numerous discoveries have been made in the area since the middle of the 20th century, when archeologists discovered tombs dating to the 18th and 19th dynasties, such as the tomb of Horemheb, the last king of 18th dynasty.
