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Well-Preserved Tomb of Ancient Egyptian Official Found Near Saqqara

The tomb includes two chapels with painted reliefs, and officials say it could shed light on late Fifth Dynasty funerary traditions.

  • During the 2026 excavation season, a joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission discovered a well-preserved Fifth Dynasty tomb in the Mariette Necropolis near Saqqara, dating to Egypt's Old Kingdom .
  • One chapel belongs to Yunmen, a high-ranking official who served under Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi as judge, court administrator, and chief scribe responsible for reviewing petitions and complaints.
  • Painted reliefs in Yunmen's chapel depict agricultural activities and offering processions, while his father Iti's chapel features a traditional false door; Iti held clerical roles managing agricultural lands and offerings.
  • Led by Josep Cervell Autuori of the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, the mission provides new insights into administrative structures. Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the SCA, emphasized the discovery's historical importance.
  • Although French archaeologist Auguste Mariette excavated the mastaba's location in the 19th century, the site had never undergone systematic scientific exploration until this mission provided modern documentation and analysis.
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Spanish and Egyptian archaeologists have made a major tomb discovery at the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo. Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of a 4,300-year-old tomb. It dates to the Fifth Dynasty, during the reign of Pharaoh Zedkare Izezi (2381-2353 BC). Who owned the tomb The tomb contains two funerary chapels belonging to two high-ranking officials, Yunmen and his father, Ity. It features exceptionally well-p…

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It contains "two funerary chapels belonging to two high-ranking officials during the reign of Pharaoh Zendkare Izezi, of the 5th Dynasty, who reigned between 2381-2353 BC - The reliefs and colors have been preserved in excellent condition

·Marousi, Greece
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Archaeologists have discovered a 4,300-year-old tomb near Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reports. The discovery was made last summer.

·Kobbegem, Belgium
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A team of international archaeologists has made a stunning discovery during excavations at the famous Egyptian necropolis of Saqqara, located about 40 kilometers south of Cairo. They have discovered a perfectly preserved tomb from the Old Kingdom period, whose age is estimated at over 4,500 years. As reported by the scientific publication planet-today.ru, the funerary complex belonged to a high-ranking state official named Sekhentyu-Ptah. The mo…

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SoCientífica broke the news on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
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