The subterranean chamber was frozen-in-time about 3,300 years ago. In addition to the sarcophagus, some vessels were burial offerings to accompany the deceased. In those times, the Egyptians believed that items in the chamber would serve the dead in the afterlife.
The sarcophagus was decorated with the traditional inscriptions found on New Kingdom sarcophagi. It had the bearded head of the owner. And Nut, the sky-goddess Nut seated on the chest with her wings extended.
Rameses has been identified as “the Pharaoh associated with the Biblical Exodus from Egypt.” officials said.
Eli Yannai, a Bronze Age expert with the IAA, said that “This is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.” And explained that “The fact that the cave was sealed … will allow us to employ the modern scientific methods available today, to retrieve much information from the artifacts … not visible to the naked eye.”
“The cave may furnish a complete picture of the Late Bronze Age funerary customs,” he added.
Although guards were posted at the site after the discovery, there appears to have been some looting before it was sealed up. Officials are investigating the theft.
