Netflix will launch the global release of its new original documentary - about the one-of-a-kind tomb of the archaeological Egyptian site of Saqqara - titled 'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb' on its platforms starting 28th October.
“This has been an exciting moment for the whole world and shooting this film has been an experience full of thrilling surprises," said James Tovell, director of Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb. "Working with an Egyptian team that has a deep connection with their ancestors has made the project even more unique,” he added.
The 113-minute documentary films a team of local archaeologists excavating unexplored passageways, shafts, and tombs, piecing together the secrets of Egypt’s most significant find in almost 50 years, with a focus on the decoding of the tomb of an Old Kingdom priest Wahtye, unopened for 4500 years, and the excavation of five shafts as well to uncover an astonishing ancient mystery.
“This mission wasn’t like any other, normally in archaeology, you labor for weeks to find anything, here every 30 seconds there was a new jaw-dropping discovery such as, capturing on film the discovery of the first complete mummified lion cub in Egypt," said Tovell.
"That was a great moment for everyone and then being privileged to excavate the burial shafts of the Old Kingdom priest Wahtye. The chance to excavate an Old Kingdom burial is a golden opportunity for any filmmaker,” he added.
Produced by Lion Television and At Land Productions as well as Executive producers Richard Bradley and Caterina Turroni, 'Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb' was filmed in Saqqara near Cairo, and less than a mile away from the site of the Step Pyramid, one of the oldest and most iconic stone structures on earth.
The documentary will be released globally in 190 countries with over 30 subs as well as English dubbing.
The documentary was inspired by the discovery of a 4500-year-old tomb. The news made global headlines when it was discovered in late 2018 and belongs to an Old Kingdom Priest named Wahtye, from the 5th dynasty (2500-2350 BC) under the reign of Pharaoh Neferirkare.
"It is heralded as one of the most jaw-dropping, exciting, and important Ancient Egyptian discoveries in decades and the discoveries have only just begun," stated the world's leading streaming platform that reveals scientific treasures like the Lion cub mummy, the first-ever Malaria case theory as well as others.
Meanwhile, a new discovery in ancient Necropolis of Saqqara, south of Cairo, is set to be announced soon, a statement by the Cabinet read on Monday.
The excavations have unearthed new burial shafts with vast colorful and intact coffins dating to over 2,500 years, as well as wooden, colored and gilded statuettes.
The discovery is set to be announced in the coming weeks in a press conference in Saqqara, the statement added.
The announcement comes few weeks after a collection of 59 intact 26th Dynasty coffins were unearthed in Saqqara Necropolis, with all coffins found in a very good conservation condition with their original colors too.
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