Cairo (AP): Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed another collection of ancient coffins in the vast Necropolis south of Cairo.

Archaeologists have unearthed a collection of colorful, sealed sarcophagi buried in the Sahara Necropolis more than 2,500 years ago, the Ministry of Tourism and Archeology said in a statement.

Morefa coffins were found, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Archaeologists have also found colorful, plastered wooden statues, the ministry said. Details of the new discovery will be announced at a news conference at the famous Step Pyramid in Jose, the report said.

Egypt has sought to publicize archaeological finds in an effort to revive a major tourism sector affected by the unrest following the 2011 uprising. The corona virus pandemic has further hit the region.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madhoubouli and Tourism and Archeology Minister Khalid El-Anani visited the area to examine the new find. Within two weeks, 59 sealed 59 sarcophagi were revealed by the Ministry.

The Sahara site is part of the Necropolis in Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and includes the famous Giza pyramids and smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwesh. The remains of Memphis were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the 1970s.

There are at least 11 pyramids on the plateau, including the step pyramids of hundreds of ancient officials and other sites from the First Dynasty (2920-2770 BC) to the Coptic period (395-642).