„This is incredible,“ said the Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities, Sahi Hawass, who led the mission. According to moderator Josh Gates. The 2000-year-old mummy comes from the 26th dynasty, which ended in 525 BC. It was surrounded by gold and other grave goods.
The tomb was discovered in February last year. In a network of tunnels and tombs, the archaeologists came across a total of 40 mummies.
Media spectacle could arouse interest
According to Discovery, the grave opening was a joint project with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. Whether the US station paid the government in Cairo for this money, the transmitter was open.
„After all, it’s a media spectacle, but it could make people get excited about antiquities,“ said an Egyptian archaeologist. If the program was well done, it could also be an opportunity for tourism.
Egypt wants to boost tourism
Egypt is trying to boost tourism by marketing archaeological discoveries. This has collapsed since the protests against the then ruler Hosni Mubarak in 2011. According to the government, the industry has now recovered slightly. In 2017, 8.3 million tourists visited the country. Of the 14.7 million visitors in 2010, the country is still far away.
