Cairo - A large sarcophagus dating to the reign of King Ramses II (1279-1213 BC) was discovered in Saqqara, south of Cairo, the Supreme Council of Antiquities said on Tuesday.

The sarcophagus, made of red granite, bears hieroglyphic text and different titles of the deceased. It belongs to an overseer of stables during the reign of Ramses II.

"The newly-discovered sarcophagus was found inside an old kingdom tomb previously discovered in the 1980s," said the statement.

The sarcophagus, the council statement said, was discovered by an excavation team from Cairo University.

A council spokesperson said no skeleton was found in the sarcophagus. However, a collection of human bones and skulls were excavated near eight burial pits also discovered in a 16 square metre tomb.
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