January 30, 2008—Four ancient tombs containing well-preserved mummies and ornate painted coffins have been unearthed at El Faiyum, an oasis about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Cairo (see map).

This gold-painted mask—photographed November 21, 2007—was found on a female mummy, a rare treasure for a site known to be a frequent target for modern-day grave robbers.

The mask was the first of its kind found at the El Faiyum site, an ancient "city of the dead" known as Deir el-Banat, offering hope to archaeologists that more valuable antiquities await discovery there.

In ancient times, gold symbolized eternity and was thought to preserve the remains of the dead forever.

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