Archaeological digs around ancient Egyptian sites still have plenty of secrets to give up yet – like the huge, black granite sarcophagus just discovered at an excavation in the city of Alexandria, on the northern coast of Egypt. What really stands out about the solemn-looking coffin is its size. At 185 cm (72.8 inches) tall, 265 cm (104.3 inches) long, and 165 cm (65 inches) wide, it's the biggest ever found in Alexandria. Oh, and then there's the large alabaster head discovered in the same underground tomb. Experts are assuming it represents whoever is buried in the sarcophagus, though that's yet to be confirmed. (Egypt Ministry of Antiquities) It's a fascinating find for archaeologists. Ayman Ashmawy from the Egypt Ministry of Antiquities says the layer of mortar still intact between the lid and the body of the coffin indicates it hasn't been opened since it was sealed more than 2,000 years ago. That's particularly rare for a site like this – ancient Egyptian tombs have often been plundered and damaged over the centuries, which means archaeologists rarely find a final resting place that's still intact like this one appears to be. The site as a whole dates back to the Ptolemaic period between 305 BCE and 30 BCE, with this particular find uncovered five metres (16.4 feet) below the ground. Originally found while clearing the site for a new building, the tomb is now under guard while experts can work out what exactly lies inside the black sarcophagus. It could almost be the start of a new Indiana Jones film. As Jason Daley at the Smithsonian reports, down the centuries Alexandria has developed to be such a busy, crowded city that finding relics can be a challenge – anything that has managed to survive is often difficult to get to. Those are all the details we have of the new find, so we'll have to wait and see if the identity of the buried Egyptian can be determined. But a sarcophagus of this size could mean someone of pretty high status. (Egypt Ministry of Antiquities) We haven't been short of incredible finds in Egypt this year. In February, archaeologists found a hidden network of tombs south of Cairo in the Minya Governorate, which – like the giant granite sarcophagus – have probably lain untouched for 2,000 years. Experts say it'll take them five years to work through that site. Then in April, a rare Greco-Roman temple was found. It promises to reveal secrets about the Siwa Oasis, one of the most remote settlements in Egypt, including how foreign rule affected the country between 200-300 BCE. Every discovery paints in a little more of the detail about how people lived and worked in these ancient times. We'll be keeping a close eye on this sarcophagus to see what it might reveal.<doc-sep>Today in news that sounds like the premise of a new action movie, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture announced that an archeological dig unearthed an ancient tomb in Alexandria. The black granite sarcophagus contained in the tomb dates back to the Ptolemaic period (sometime between 323 and 30 BC), and it’s the largest discovery of its kind in the area. We don’t know who or what is in it, and nobody has opened it before, which means humanity is facing a conundrum: do we open this thing or what? I, for one, think it’s a terrible idea. Who knows what’s in there? Why gamble our fates with a thing that screams “I am cursed”? We know what happened with Pandora. But a part of me, the always-online part that’s already being slowly murdered by the onslaught of bad news happening out in the world, says, “You know what? Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to have this thing deliver us from our mortal coil.” When I asked other Verge staffers if they’d open the mysterious sarcophagus, everyone had their own strong opinions. I present them to you, dear reader, so you can create an informed opinion about the risks before all hell potentially breaks lose. Laura Hudson, culture editor — Pro: knowledge. Con: Isn’t there a real element to the curse of the pharaohs in terms of bacteria? T.C. Sottek, managing editor — Pro: Bijan Stephen, internet culture reporter — Pro: ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn. Con: ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn. Devon Maloney, internet culture editor — Pro: The Rock may show up. Chaim Gartenberg, reporter — Con: Tom Cruise might show up. Bijan — Pro: Brendan Fraser might show up. Tasha Robinson, film and TV editor — Con: Geraldo Rivera might show up, guaranteeing that there’s nothing inside at all. Michael Moore, reviews coordinator — Pro: potentially really old honey that’s still good. Chaim — Pro: treasure? Devon — Con: rich people will eventually own the treasure. Bijan — Con: cursed sarcophagus shows up in Kanye’s next Trump freestyle. Bryan Bishop, senior editor — Pro: Indiana Jones may be inside. Tasha — Pro: Might stir up more interest in science and exploration, like the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb did. Con: This is straight out of the 2017 version of The Mummy, so it might stir up more interest in restarting the failed Dark Universe franchise. Laura — I feel like it’s not in human nature to just say, “Oh, here’s this mysterious box of potential knowledge. Let’s just not open it.” The sarcophagus exists, and thus it must be opened. Devon — “Nuke it from space” is the other option. Laura — I was thinking about Prometheus, too. There’s definitely that undertone in a lot of the Alien movies about messing with things and paying the price, albeit more often because of capitalism than curiosity. Devon — Literally show me a movie where opening the ominous, very old thing was a good idea. Tasha — Raiders of the Lost Ark, Devon. At least, it was a good idea for everyone who wanted the Nazis dead. Can we surround the sarcophagus with America’s growing cadre of unabashed white supremacists before we open it? Devon — I mean, how hard could it be to convince Richard Spencer that he alone deserves to open the cursed tomb? Andrew Webster, games editor — Pro: It’s the ultimate loot box. Con: odds of death are not disclosed.<doc-sep>A new mystery awaits history buffs in Egypt. A team of Egyptian archeologists recently uncovered a black granite sarcophagus in Alexandria, and no one knows what is inside. The sarcophagus, which is a tomb that is sometimes buried, was discovered July 1 during routine excavation work for the construction of a new building in Alexandria’s Sidi Gaber district, according to the Ministry of Antiquities. The team found it more than 16 feet below ground, inside a tomb they said likely dates back to the Ptolemaic period, which lasted from around 305 to 30 B.C.E. In addition to the sarcophagus, the archeologists found an alabaster bust of a man that likely depicts the owner of the tomb. The sarcophagus itself is 6 feet tall, 8.6 feet long and more than 5 feet wide, making it the largest sarcophagus ever uncovered in Alexandria, according to Mostafa Waziri, general secretary of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. When the team found it, they discovered a layer of mortar between the lid and the body of the sarcophagus, which suggests it has not been opened in 2,000 years. For many years, archeologists had largely ignored Alexandria, according to Smithsonian. Even though the famous city has an important place in history, centuries of building has covered over many of the ruins and millions of people now live and work on top of what was once founded by Alexander the Great. But this new discovery is the latest in a series of finds in the last few decades, as researchers have been looking further into the city’s past. When researchers do open the sarcophagus, it could give them a rare opportunity to examine whatever is preserved inside. Get The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . 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This black granite sarcophagus was found in a tomb in Alexandria, Egypt. Dating back over 2,000 years, it is the largest sarcophagus ever found in Alexandria, archaeologists believe. A massive black granite sarcophagus and a sculpture of a man who may be buried inside have been discovered in a tomb in Alexandria, Egypt. The granite sarcophagus looks foreboding: It's nearly 9 feet long, 5 feet wide and 6 feet tall (2.7 by 1.5 by 1.8 meters). And, it may be the largest sarcophagus ever discovered in Alexandria, said Mostafa Waziri, general secretary of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, in a statement released by Egypt's antiquities ministry. A thick layer of mortar covers much of the sarcophagus, suggesting that it has not been opened since it was buried, Waziri said in the statement. As such, the person buried in the sarcophagus, along with any clothing or jewelry they wore and any artifacts they were buried with, may still be intact, waiting to be discovered. [See Photos of Mummies Discovered at an Ancient Egyptian Cemetery] Additionally, an alabaster head of a man, which may depict the person whose remains are buried in the sarcophagus, was also found in the tomb where the sarcophagus was discovered, the statement said. This alabaster head of a man found near the sarcophagus may depict the person who was buried there. (Image credit: Courtesy Egypt Antiquities Ministry) A team from Egypt's antiquities ministry was inspecting an area of land in the Sidi Gaber district before construction work on a building began when the members came upon the mysterious coffin. It dates back to sometime between 304 and 30 B.C., a time after the death of Alexander the Great, when the descendants of Ptolemy I, who was one of Alexander's generals, ruled Egypt. At this time, Alexandria — which Alexander the Great claimed to have founded (although people were living there earlier) — was the capital of Egypt. The discovery leaves archaeologists with a series of mysteries: Who is buried inside the sarcophagus? What artifacts are hiding inside? And, why is the sarcophagus so large? The sarcophagus appears not to have been opened since it was buried, archaeologists say. (Image credit: Courtesy Egypt Antiquities Ministry) Rare opportunity While ancient tombs are often discovered in Egypt, they have often been looted, whether in ancient or modern times. Most sarcophagi are found already opened, their contents taken away and the bones of the mummies sometimes found scattered by looters. In this case, the sarcophagus appears not to have been opened yet, giving archaeologists a chance to study its contents and the person inside it. Archaeologists are being cautious with the sarcophagus. They have not opened it, and they may decide that, to prevent damage, they will use X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans or another scientific test that will allow them to peer inside without opening the sarcophagus. Originally published on Live Science.