There is still so much to be discovered about the cosmos, medicine, psychology, nature … and human history.
Claire Voon’s story at Hyperallergic about a “new” 2,800-year-old painted sarcophagus is a case in point. The colorful hieroglyphs promise to add to our knowledge.
Voon reports, “Archaeologists in Luxor have found an exquisitely decorated, millennia-old sarcophagus near the pharaonic temple of Thutmose III that still contains the remains of its ancient owner. The discovery is the most recent to emerge from the Spanish Thutmosis III Temple Project excavation, which since 2008 has explored the 18th Dynasty pharaoh’s funerary complex, situated along the west bank of the Nile. …
“Archaeologists are now starting to piece together the history of the coffin’s permanent resident. Although termites had eaten away at parts of the slim, wooden container, as the team’s head, Myriam Seco Alvarez, told El Mundo, the surface still retains a rich array of hieroglyphs that offer clues. Sarcophagi are much more than simple containers for the departed, and the pictorial script on this one records that it belonged to a man named Amenrenef, who once served as a royal court advisor.
“The images, whose bright pigments have been preserved after all this time, also depict religious figures such as the ancient goddesses Isis and Nephtys and the four sons of Horus.
“The archeologists have since removed the sarcophagus from its tomb and brought it to a lab, where it will undergo restoration. The team also plans to carry out X-ray examinations to determine the exact state of the remains inside.” More here.
Photo: Thutmosis III Temple Project
A decorated sarcophagus recently found by Spanish archaeologists near Luxor.
Suzanne's Mom's Blog 
What I wouldn’t give for a time portal to visit that time. I like to sugarcoat history. And I just like to think that ancient Egypt was a place where people flourished because they understood the spirit of community.
I would like to think you are right, but I fear that slavery played a role. Despite our problems today, I think it’s good most people now find certain practices unacceptable.
Of course, and how could I completely forget that? Unacceptable. I did not mean to and would never endorse that practice at all. Again, sugar coated the parts I wanted to focus on, forgetting how their society was built. I hope you’re not offended by my comment.
Sabiscuit, no worries. We all need to imagine a better world somewhere. I myself imagine that it’s around us if we look beyond the headlines.
This is so cool–I think I’d like to be an archaeologist in a future life. Have you heard of a book called, “The Mummy Congress”? Fascinating . . .
Haven’t heard of that book. Will look into it.