Here’s what archaeologists found in the huge granite coffin discovered in Egypt [Photos]

When Egyptian archaeologists discovered a black granite sarcophagus in Egypt recently, a debate arose as to whether they should open it or not, with descriptions of imaginary plagues and curses used to dissuade them.

The archaeologists, however, went ahead and opened the coffin.

“The sarcophagus has been opened, but we have not been hit by a curse,” said Mostafa Waziry, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Antiquities.

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Inside the coffin were three skulls, one of which had multiple fractures, revealing that it has been hit by a sharp instrument and that it belongs to a warrior.  The other two were intact and belonged to men. They were surrounded with sewage water, which had apparently leaked inside.

According to Waziry, the mummies did not belong to a Ptolemaic or Roman royal family as it had been supposed earlier. The coffin did not have any inscriptions or a cartouche bearing their names. He also added that no additional trinkets were found, which further proves the inhabitants were not of royal blood.

Here are the photos of what was discovered:

The Tomb after the lid was removed. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

Three skeletons and water sewage were found in the sarcophagus (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities)

Skulls of the three decomposed mummies. Photograph: EPA

Three decomposed mummies were found in the sarcophagus- Egypt Today/Asmaa Ali Badr