Valley of the Golden Mummies, Ancient necropolis in Bahariya Oasis, Egypt.
The Valley of the Golden Mummies is an ancient burial ground from the Greco-Roman period, located in Bahariya Oasis in the Giza Governorate of Egypt. The site spreads across open desert terrain and contains hundreds of tombs ranging from simple pit graves to multi-chamber family vaults cut into the rock.
The site came to light in 1996 when a donkey broke through the ground and fell into a burial chamber, leading to the first excavations. Archaeologists then worked through the area and found that the necropolis had been in use for several centuries during the Greco-Roman period.
The name 'Valley of the Golden Mummies' comes from the gilded masks and coffins found on many of the bodies. Walking through the exposed tombs, visitors can still see the contrast between plain wrapped bodies and those covered in painted, gold-leafed cartonnage.
The site lies in the open desert of Bahariya Oasis, roughly 230 miles (370 km) from Cairo, and offers very little shade, so sun protection and water are essential. Only a section of the necropolis is open to visitors at any given time, so following the marked paths and staying within the designated areas is important.
Although hundreds of mummies have been recovered, archaeologists estimate that the vast majority of the burial ground remains buried beneath the sand. The small number of opened chambers gives visitors only a partial view of what the full site likely contains.
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