THE tombs of over a thousand mummies have been miraculously recovered in Egypt, with scientists revealing their causes of death.
The massive burial site in Egypt's Aswan uncovered 36 tombs that were shockingly reused across centuries - containing around three dozen mummies in each.
Situated on the Nile River's east bank, the city of Aswan was an important trade, quarry and military zone in its time.
It was first established more than 4,500 years ago - but the people have stood a mystery for experts.
Now the astonishing burial site has uncovered 36 new tombs that are thought to date between 600BC and 200 or 300AD.
Many contain families who are thought to have tragically died from infectious diseases.
The first tomb at the site, discovered in 2019, contained four mummies - two of whom were thought to be mother and child.
But scientists were shocked to discover this was not the case.
Archaeologist Patrizia Piacentini told the : "At the beginning, we thought they were mother and child, but new CT scans showed they are two children.
"But we recently found a woman near them who was likely their mother and the remains of a man, likely the father."
The incredible discovery also revealed how people were buried according to their class.
Experts found so-called 'elites' at the top of the hill, while the middle class sat below.
But in a scientific breakthrough, initial studies on the remains show how some mummies died of ancient illness.
Ms Piacentini told the : "some suffered from infectious diseases, while others had bone disorders.
"The children suffered from anemia, malnutrition and in some cases infectious diseases.
"Some of the bones we found had clear signs of tuberculosis.
"Another case of amputation was also found in a woman who had her leg removed but survived."
The incredible discovery could rewrite the books on ancient illness or even help modern cures.
The archaeology team plans to conduct studies on all the mummies but store the most preserved ones in a museum-owned warehouse.
Ms Piacentini said the experts will clean the tomb, lay the mummies back to rest and then reseal the tomb.
She said: "This is their resting place,
"We uncover their story and then we put them back and close the tomb.
"For me, it was important from the beginning."
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