Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery in Egypt's Nile Valley: They've unearthed at least 17 mostly intact mummies in a burial ground in the province of Minya, about 140 miles south of Cairo, according to news outlets.
The ancient remains, believed to be about 1,500 years old, were found in a necropolis at a large archaeological site in the village of Tuna al-Gabal, The Associated Press reported, where thousands of mummified animals have previously been found.
"It's the first human necropolis to be found here," Antiquities Minister Khaled al-Anani told reporters, according to the AP.
The mummies are likely the remains of priests and officials because they were elaborately preserved, al-Anani said.
The site could contain more than 30 mummies, an Egyptologist, Salah al-Kholi, told The Telegraph.
Archaeologists also found a half-dozen sarcophagi, papyrus, clay and limestone coffins and other vessels.
Egyptian officials hope the discovery might help bolster the nation’s floundering tourism industry.
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