Egyptian coffin to be opened live on Discovery TV

History enthusiasts can watch the inner chambers of an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus (a box-like stone coffin) of a mysterious mummy being opened LIVE on television in a two-hour special Discovery Channel programme on April 8.

The ancient artefacts of Egypt can be viewed from close quarters in the upcoming programme, "Expedition Unknown: Egypt LIVE".

As per Discovery, the multiplatform event will be hosted by adventurer and avid explorer Josh Gates, who will be joined by world-renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, and Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.

Viewers will have the rare opportunity to see the inner chambers of an excavation site, where archaeologists recently uncovered a network of vertical shafts leading to an underground network of tunnels and tombs with 40 mummies believed to be part of the noble elite, the widely-viewed platform added.

The massive underground complex of chambers is a treasure trove of antiquities - all lying undisturbed for thousands of years.

Several chambers, however, are yet to be explored - and many more discoveries to be revealed, including a mysterious limestone sarcophagus found buried deep within the complex. "The identity of the mummy inside has been a mystery for 3,000 years..possibly until now."

"This is Discovery at its best, as we seek to uncover history that has been buried in the sands of Egypt for millennia," Discovery & Factual, Chief Brand Officer, Nancy Daniels said in a statement.

The live broadcast can be viewed at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. (India time) on April 8 on Discovery Channel and Discovery HD World.

It is produced by Discovery Studios and Ping Pong Productions in association with Big Dreams Entertainment.

The channels will also premiere special Egypt-based series on great women of ancient Egypt and Egypt's lost queens surviving the exodus on April 7 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

--IANS

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