CAIRO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's antiquities ministry announced on Wednesday the discovery of an ancient burial site of a pregnant woman in Upper Egypt's Aswan province.

A joint Italian-U.S. archaeological mission working at Kom Ombo Temple in Aswan has discovered the burial site, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mostafa Waziri said in a statement.

Waziri said that the burial site was found almost completely intact inside a necropolis that had been used by travelers who came to Egypt via the southern desert roads during the second intermediate era in 1750-1550 B.C.

The preliminary studies showed that the pregnant woman was about 25 years old and in her late pregnancy, Waziri noted.

The skeleton of the woman was found wrapped in leather and pottery vessels were found besides her, Waziri said.

Unexpected sacrificial offerings were also found inside the burial site, he said, adding that they consisted of incomplete ostrich egg-shells.

Egypt, one of the most ancient civilizations, has been working hard to preserve its archaeological heritage and discover the secrets of its ancient antiquities in a bid to revive the country's ailing tourism sector.

Tourism sector has suffered an acute recession over the past few years due to political turmoil and relevant security issues. Enditem