Cairo –
At least 2,000 mummified sheep heads from the Ptolemaic period and an Old Kingdom palace structure have been found in the temple of Ramesses II in the ancient city of Abydos in southern Egypt, archaeologists said on Saturday.
Sheep, dogs, wild goats, cattle, deer and mongoose were found at the temple, along with sheep’s heads, believed to be votive offerings indicating continued reverence for Ramesses II at the site nearly 1000 years after his death. Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
He said the finds would extend knowledge of the site over two millennia dating back to the Ptolemaic period. The Ptolemaic period lasted for about three centuries until the Roman conquest in 30 BC.
Located in the Sohag Governorate of Egypt, about 270 miles (435 km) south of Cairo, Abydos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt.
It was a necropolis for ancient Egyptian royalty and a pilgrimage center for the worship of the god Osiris.
The excavations were conducted by a New York University mission to study the ancient world.
Along with the remains of mummified animals, the team found a large palace complex with walls about five meters thick from the Old Kingdom Sixth Dynasty, and many statues, papyri, ancient wood remains, leather garments, and shoes.
“This structure can help to restore the sense of the ancient landscape of Abydos before Ramesses II built the temple,” the head of the mission, Sameh Iskandar, was quoted as saying.
(Written by Adam Macari; Editing by Aidan Lewis)
