Over 4,000-year-old tomb discovered at Egypt's Saqqara

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, reported Xinhua. 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. 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 colorful 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.