Archaeologists find mummy of what may be Egypt queen

Archaeologists digging near the pyramids of Saqqara said today they have found the mummy of what may turn out to be the ancient Egyptian Queen Seshestet who ruled Egypt 4,300 years ago.

The remains of the mummy were discovered in a pyramid found in Saqqara last year after Egyptian archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass, the head of the countrys Supreme Council of Antiquities, found an opening at the top of the pyramid used by ancient robbers for entry, the council said today.

Hawass and his team found the mummy in a sarcophagus weighing about six tons after spending five hours prying it open. Ancient robbers had stolen most of the valuables from inside the sarcophagus, leaving behind the body parts including the mummys skull, legs and pelvis, the council said in a faxed statement. The body parts were wrapped in linen, the council said. Some pottery shards and gold that was used to cover fingers of royal pharaohs were also found.

Even though the archaeologists didnt find the name of the queen in hieroglyphics, there is evidence to suggest that the mummy was the mother of the Sixth Dynasty ruler King Teti, Hawass said in the statement.

Queen Seshestet is one of a limited number of women who became pharaoh in ancient Egypt. References to her have been found in ancient papyrus texts. In one of them, the queen made a request to doctors to find her a cure for hair loss, Hawass said. Its not clear if she was ever given one.

The main step-pyramid at Saqqara of King Djoser is almost fully intact and is often visited by tourists along with the pyramids of Giza nearby.