3,500 Year Old Mummy And ‘Beautiful’ Wall Mural Discovered In Egyptian Tombs

The mummified body of a top Egyptian official has been discovered in an unexplored tomb in the Nile city of Luxor.

The linen-wrapped body was found alongside a trove of painted wooden funeral masks, wall inscriptions, paintings and several hundred carved statues dating back around 3,500 years, between the reigns of King Amenhotep II and King Thutmose IV.

A large painted mural is largely intact, with Egyptologist Zahi Hawass telling The Independent: “It’s really beautiful and typical 18th dynasty. It looks like it was painted yesterday.”

<strong>A linen-wrapped mummy found in the Draa Abu el-Naga district of Luxor&nbsp;</strong><strong>'It looks like it was painted yesterday' - An&nbsp;worker stands next to an ancient Egyptian mural found in one of the newly explored tombs&nbsp;</strong>

The artefacts were found in unexcavated two tombs located in the Draa Abul Naga necropolis on Luxor’s west bank, flagged by German archaeologist Frederica Kampp in the 1990s.

Khaled al-Anani, of the Ministry of Antiquities, told the Associated Press on Saturday: “It’s truly an exceptional day. The 18th dynasty private tombs were already known, but it’s the first time to enter inside the two tombs.”

Egypt’s relics are a draw for foreign visitors and authorities hope new finds can help attract more as a way to help revive tourism hit by unrest that followed the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

In September, Egyptian archaeologists announced the discovery of a tomb of a prominent goldsmith who lived more than 3,000 years ago, unearthing statues, mummies and jewellery in the latest major find near Luxor.

<strong>Although its identity is not yet know, the mummy is believed to be a top official from the 18th dynasty, given where it was found&nbsp;</strong>