エジプト遺跡でひつぎ３０個発掘、３０００年を経ても色彩豊か

【ルクソールＡＦＰ＝時事】エジプト考古省は19日、南部ルクソールの墳墓群「王家の谷」で古代エジプトの木製のひつぎ30個が発掘されたと発表した。これだけまとまった数のひつぎが発掘されるのはまれだ。古代エジプト第22王朝（紀元前10世紀頃）時代のものだが、保存状態は良好という。（写真はエジプト南部ルクソールの「王家の谷」で、発掘されたひつぎを開ける考古学者）
　エジプト考古最高評議会のムスタファ・ワジリ事務局長は、ナイル川西岸の墓地遺跡（ネクロポリス）、アルアサシーフで見つかった３０個のひつぎについて、深さわずか１メートルの地中に２層になって埋められていたと、記者会見で説明。男性、女性、子ども用のものがあり、高位の神官一族のものとみられるという。１９世紀に行われた発掘で同地は王族の墓とされていたが、今回の発掘によって神官たちも埋葬されていたことが明らかになった。
　ひつぎは約３０００年前のものにもかかわらず、黒、緑、赤、黄色などの顔料で描かれた装飾のヘビや鳥、ハスの花、象形文字がはっきりと見える。一方、封印された子ども用のひつぎ１個については、装飾が施されておらず、未完成の状態だった。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2019/10/21-08:40）

Egypt revealed on Saturday a rare trove of 30 ancient wooden coffins that have been well-preserved over millennia in the archaeologically rich Valley of the Kings in Luxor.
The antiquities ministry officially unveiled the discovery made at Asasif, a necropolis on the west bank of the Nile River, at a press conference against the backdrop of the Hatshepsut Temple.
This is the first discovery in Asasif by dedicated Egyptian hands, comprised of archaeologists, conservationists and workers, head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa al-Waziri, told reporters.
The 30 ornately decorated coffins of men, women and children were found only a metre (three feet) underground, stacked in two rows. They are believed to belong to family members of high priests.
Waziri explained that excavations of the site in the 19th century had revealed royal tombs, but this latest discovery had yielded a collection of priests' burials.
The sarcophagi date back to the 22nd Dynasty, founded around 3,000 years ago in the 10th century BC.
Despite their age, black, green, red and yellow paintings of snakes, birds, lotus flowers and hieroglyphics that cover the coffins are still clearly visible.
We only did remedial first-aid on these well-preserved coffins. They are considered to be in great condition because there were hardly any settlements around the site, local antiquities ministry restorer Saleh Abdel-Gelil told AFP.
According to Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Enany, discoveries of ancient Egyptian relics had slowed after the 2011 Arab Spring revolution that toppled long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak and plunged the country in political turmoil.
But several high-level officials, including President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, have in recent weeks affirmed Egypt's stability following rare, small-scale protests in September that drew a heavy-handed response from security forces.
Some people, we don't have to mention names, don't want us to have these discoveries... that impress the world, said Enany before throngs of tourists, referring to Egypt's detractors.
These discoveries are priceless for Egypt's reputation, he added.
Enany said the important Asasif collection will be moved to the recently opened Grand Egyptian Museum next year.
Egypt has sought to promote its archaeological heritage and recent finds in a bid to revive its vital tourism sector, which has suffered due to political insecurity and terror attacks.
However, critics point to archaeological sites and museums suffering from negligence and poor management.