Archaeologists digging at the ancient Egyptian site Taposiris Magna unearthed 16 burials in rock-cut tombs, with one containing a mummy bearing a tongue made of gold.

The team speculates that after the person’s tongue was removed during embalming it was replaced with the object so the deceased could speak to Osiris in the afterlife.

Osiris is the Egyptian ‘Lord of the Underworld’ and judge of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ – one of the most important gods of ancient Egypt.

The burial shafts, dating back some 2,000 years, were popular in ancient Greek and Roman eras, which held remains inside of a mountain or natural rocky formation.

Within the tombs were a number of mummies and although the remains have since deteriorated, the stone funeral masks are still intact – allowing the team to see what each person may have once looked like.

The excavation is being led by the University of Santo Domingo, which has been working at the site for nearly a decade.

The team had previously uncovered several coins inside the Temple of Taposiris Magna etched with the face of Queen Cleopatra VII, which suggests she ruled when many of the individuals were laid to rest in their rock-cut tombs.

Additionally, pieces of statues and temple grounds reveal King Ptolemy IV built this spectacular temple.

Ptolemy IV Philopator reigned over Egypt from 221 to 204BC and due to his interest in lavish celebrations and ceremonies, the decline of the Ptolemaic dynasty is usually traced to him.

The skeleton with the gold tongue was found to be well-preserved, as its skull and most of its structure is still intact.

Archaeologists dug it out of the rock-cut tomb and were met with the still shining gold object inside of the skeleton’s mouth.

They speculate that the tongue was removed by embalmers, but the gold tongue was put in its place during a funeral ritual.

The hope is that this individual would have the ability to speak to the god of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, Osiris, upon arriving in the afterlife.