Egypt's mysterious black sarcophagus has given up a few more of its secrets, but just what they mean is open to interpretation.
In amongst the pungent sewer water and the three decomposed skeletons, archaeologists at the Egyptian Ministry of Antiques found three gold sheets with pictures on them.
One is of a snake, the second an ear of corn, and the third an opium poppy seed inside a building, believed to be a shrine of some sort.
Snakes were a common motif in Egyptian burials, Society of Jewellery Historians president Jack Ogden told Live Science, representing rebirth.
"They shed their skin, and thus [are] perfect in a funerary connection."
The corn probably represents rebirth too, but the meaning behind the opium poppy is a little less obvious.
"Opium seems to have been quite widely used in Greco-Roman Egypt for medicinal purposes, but there may be some connection - in the ancient mind at least - between its sleep- and dream-inducing qualities and death and rebirth," Dr Ogden said.
Another gold object was found, the ministry said, without providing any description or photographs.
Hole in the head
One of the skeletons had a hole in the back of its skull which appears to have been the result of a surgical procedure, rather than violence.
"This surgery is the oldest surgical intervention ever known since pre-history but was rare in Egypt," said chief researcher Zeinab Hasheesh.
The surgery is known today as trepanation. There are several reasons why an ancient person might have had the hole drilled, including to remove shattered bone after an injury, to relieve blood pressure in the brain or to let out evil spirits believed to be behind conditions such as epilepsy and mental disorders.
- A second sphinx? Mystery statue unearthed in Egypt
- Gender and age of three skeletons inside Egypt sarcophagus revealed
When it was found, the enormous black sarcophagus made headlines worldwide. There was speculation it could belong to famous historical figures including Alexander the Great, which turned out to be false.
Newshub.
