30 coffins, dating to the 22nd Dynasty (945-715 BC), were unearthed at the Assasif necropolis, located on the western bank of the Nile river near Luxor. The exceptionally well-preserved, wooden coffins were laid out in two layers, with 18 on top and 12 below. The mummies of 23 adult males, five females and 2 children were sealed inside. Archaeologists opened two of the coffins belonging to a man and a woman, which both had their outer wrappings intact, covering their faces and bodies. The gender of the mummies could be determined by the position of their hands: ancient Egyptian women were buried with their hands open, while men where buried with their hands closed. According to biblical chronology, these people lived during the time of the divided monarchy, and some may have been alive during the reign of the Pharaoh Shishak (likely Shoshenq I), who is mentioned in Scripture (1 Kings 11:40, 14:25 and 2 Chronicles 12:2-9).
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