Cairo: Egypt on Monday announced the discovery of an over 4,000-year-old tomb dating to the late Fifth Dynasty (2494-2345 BC) at the Mariette Cemetery north of Saqqara, Giza Province, west of Cairo.
According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the tomb, discovered by a joint Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission, dates to the reign of King Djedkare Isesi.
The medium-sized mastaba contains two funerary chapels. One belonged to Yunmin, a senior official who served as judge, court director, and chief of scribes responsible for handling petitions and complaints, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Excavations in Yunmin’s chapel uncovered a distinctive facade inscribed with funerary texts and an offering formula, alongside a depiction of the tomb owner in a formal pose.
The chapel’s walls were decorated with high-quality raised reliefs depicting agricultural activities and processions carrying offerings to the tomb.
The second chapel belonged to Yunmin’s father, Ity, a scribe involved in administering agricultural lands and offerings. It features a false door and colourful wall decorations of offering scenes, though much of the paint has faded.
Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discovery provides new archaeological information about the Saqqara cemetery during the late Fifth Dynasty and sheds further light on the architectural and artistic styles of tombs from the period.
In July, the Ministry announced the discovery of a Pharaonic tomb on the West Bank of Luxor, unearthed during ongoing archaeological excavations.
According to a ministry statement, the discovery was made by a Dutch archaeological mission working within the Theban Necropolis.
Hisham Elleithy, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), said inscriptions identify the tomb’s owner as “Paser,” with wall reliefs tentatively dating the structure to the New Kingdom (1550 BC-1069 BC).
Elleithy noted that the archaeological team will conduct comprehensive documentation and analysis to identify those buried at the site and reconstruct their histories, aiming to place the tomb within its broader historical and cultural context.
(IANS)
