Staggering archaeological find in Egypt exposes cult

Researchers have uncovered thousands of ancient mummified sheep heads in a part of southern Egypt, indicating the presence of a cult.

This handout picture released by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities on March 25, 2023, shows mummified ram heads uncovered in recent excavations at the temple of Ramses II in Abydos. (Photo by Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities / AFP)

Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered more than 2000 ancient mummified sheep heads left as offerings in a temple to the pharaoh Ramses II, the tourism and antiquities ministry said Sunday.

Mummies of dogs, goats, cows, gazelles and mongooses were also exhumed by a team of US archaeologists from New York University at Abydos, a site in southern Egypt famous for its temples and tombs.

Sameh Iskandar, head of the American mission, said the ram heads were “offerings” indicating “a cult to Ramses II celebrated 1000 years after his death”.

A team of archaeologists from New York University uncovered more than 2000 mummified ram heads. (Photo by Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities / AFP)

Ramses II reigned over Egypt for nearly seven decades, from 1304 to 1237BC.

Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the finds will help people know more about the temple of Ramses II and the activities which took place there from its construction between 2374 and 2140BC and the Ptolemaic period, from 323 to 30BC.

As well as the remains of mummified animals, archaeologists discovered the remains of a palace with 5m-thick walls dating to some 4000 years ago.

The remains of a palace, uncovered in recent excavations at the temple of Ramses II in Abydos. (Photo by Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities / AFP)

One of the mummified ram heads, a discovery that points to a persevering ram cult 1000 years after Ramses II's time. (Photo by Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities / AFP)

They also found several statues, papyri, remains of ancient trees, leather clothes and shoes.

Abydos, which lies some 435km on the Nile river south of Cairo, is famed for its temples such as that of Seti I, as well as its necropolises.

Cairo regularly announces new archaeological discoveries, which some suggest are made more for political and economic impact than their scientific or historic importance.

Egypt, home to some 105 million people, is mired in an economic crisis and relies on tourism for 10 per cent of GPD, employing two million people.

Cairo hopes to revive tourism by targeting 30 million visitors a year by 2028, compared to 13 million before the coronavirus pandemic.

Critics, however, point to the dilapidated state of some archaeological sites and museums.

– AFP