In pictures: Thirty ancient coffins discovered in Egypt

Egyptian authorities have unveiled a number of coffins discovered in the Asasif Necropolis, Luxor, which includes tombs dating back to the 22nd Dynasty, from the 10th century BC. The coffins contained the mummified remains of men, women and children. 

The minister of antiquities, Khaled El-Enany, described the coffins as "exceptionally well preserved, exceptionally well-coloured". (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

The ministry described the find as one of the "biggest and most important" discoveries in recent years, and the largest find of ancient sarcophagus since the 19th century, said El-Enany in Luxor. 

The wooden coffins have been preserved over millennia in the archaeologically rich Valley of the Kings in Luxor. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

The coffins were found layered on top of each other, with 18 coffins on top of 12 others and are believed to have been collected and hidden by a priest to protect them from looted. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Archaeologists are continuing to analyse the mummies and the inscriptions on the coffins to find out further details on who the people were and more about what their lives were like. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

According to the secretary general for Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, archaeologists were conducting an unrelated dig when they came across what looked like the face of a coffin. 

They continued digging, and unearthed more coffins which were positioned in layers beneath the sand. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Last week, archaeologists opened the coffins and uncovered the preserved mummies which were wrapped in cloth.

Officials have identified the gender of the mummies from the shape of their hands, visible through the cloth. Women were typically buried with their hands open, whereas men had their hands closed. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

The coffins had colourful and intricate designs on them, from patterns to Egyptian deities and hieroglyphics. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

Crowds gather around to get a glimpse of the historic discoveries.

El-Enany says that the coffins will be moved to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is being built near the Pyramids in Giza, Cairo.

The museum is due to open next year and hopes to attract more tourists in a bid to revive the tourism sector, which has been struggling in recent years. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

This article is available in French on Middle East Eye French edition.