Egypt archaeologists uncover treasure trove in ancient goldsmith's grave

Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered the grave of a wealthy goldsmith who lived in Luxor around 3,000 years ago and left behind a rich trove of treasures when he died.

The grave of the Ancient Egyptian goldsmith and his wife were found in Luxor's Draa Abul Nagaa necropolis and is believed to be one of the most important finds in recent years.

Among the finds were "mummies, sarcophagi, statuettes, pots and other artefacts", Egypt's ministry of antiquities reported.

They say it likely belonged to a man named Amenemhat and his wife Amenhotep whose burial chamber hinted at being the resting place of a powerful and wealthy craftsman.

A sandstone statue of Amenemhat and his wife was found in the courtyard of the tomb, while their son is shown resting between their legs.

Inside are two burial chambers where mummies and sarcophagi were found along with other treasures.

The ministry says it expects more artefacts to be found as the dig continues.

Egyptian archaeologists frequently uncover remnants of the country's past, which was once a centre of ancient civilization.

Earlier this year, Swedish archaeologists digging in Aswan found 12 ancient cemeteries dating back 3,500 years old.

Egypt's ancient ruins, treasures and monuments have attracted millions of tourists through the ages, with tourism an important part of the country economy.

Political unrest and militancy have hit Egypt's tourism industry hard, particularly after the Islamic State group downed a Russian airliner in 2015.