A mummification workshop, going back to ancient Egypt near the country’s Giza pyramids has been unearthed after 2,500 years and includes a gold cast mask, featuring a mask-making technique that was only followed by ancient Greeks. The discovery of the workshop along with a shaft, used as a communal burial place, was made at the Saqqara necropolis in Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt. Memphis, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is home to a wide range of temples and tombs including s the three renowned Giza pyramids. The latest discovery, announced at a press conference on Saturday, dates back to the Saite-Persian Period, from 664-404 BC. The site, which is situated  south of the Unas pyramid, was last excavated more than 100 years ago. Archaeologists also discovered a large collection of pottery vessels, bowls and measuring cups, which they hope will unveil more about the mummification process. “We are in front of a goldmine of information about the chemical composition of these oils,” noted Ramadan Hussein, the head of the German-Egyptian mission. Among the artefacts found were fragments of mummy masks, jars used to keep the organs removed from the dead during mummification as well as an array of ancient pottery. Gilded silver mask on the face of a mummy Archaeologists also located a gilded silver mask on the face of a mummy in a badly-damaged wooden coffin. Hussein said: “The finding of this mask could be called a sensation.” According to him, the technique of making the mask is also interesting. The ornaments and the way the gold cast is on silver is excellent. “Such a technique was not widespread in Egypt,” Hussein says. “This was more of a technique that was followed in ancient Greece”. “Very few masks of precious metals have been preserved to the present day, because the tombs of most Ancient Egyptian dignitaries were looted in ancient times,” he added. Many finds will be displayed at the Grand Egyptian Museum, the first phase of which is expected to be inaugurated later this year. Read more at greekcitytimes.com RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Ricardo Liberato License: CC-BY-SA