Archaeologists have unearthed a huge, black granite sarcophagus in Alexandria, Egypt, believed to have remained completely untouched since it was initially buried.

The sarcophagus is thought to be the largest of its kind to be found intact in the city, measuring a whopping 185cm high, 265cm long and 165cm wide, and weighing over 30 tonnes.

Credit: PA

Alongside the coffin was an alabaster head, which archaeologists believe to be a bust of whoever is buried inside, the Guardian reports.

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The tomb is believed to date to back to the early Ptolemaic period, which kicked off in 323BC and, according to archaeologists, it's been lying there undisturbed since it was buried, until now.

As such, no one knows what is inside, but if a lifetime of watching bad movies has taught me anything, it's that there is almost certainly a curse waiting to be unleashed. So good luck with that, chaps.

Ayman Ashmawy, head of ancient Egyptian artefacts at the Egypt's ministry of antiquities said: "We are hoping this tomb may belong to one of the high dignitaries of the period.

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"The alabaster head is likely that of a nobleman in Alexandria. When we open the sarcophagus, we hope to find objects inside that are intact, which will help us to identify this person and their position."

The sarcophagus was uncovered during construction work and in the coming weeks a team will be tasked with removing the lid. Work can then begin on preserving whatever is inside, but it's not going to be an easy job and the coffin will have to be opened on-site due to its size.

Ashmawy added: "It's risky to open it directly - we need to prepare.

"It's difficult to move it intact and open [it] in a museum.

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Credit: PA

"It's five metres underground and the whole thing weighs over 30 tonnes. The lid alone is 15 tonnes."