Discovery of an ancient cemetery in Egypt dating back more than 4,000 years

Details of a new archaeological discovery, achieved by a joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission, have been announced in Egypt. The find is a tomb dating back more than 4,000 years, specifically to the late Fifth Dynasty, during the reign of King Djedkare Isesi, in the Mariette Cemetery area in Saqqara, Giza, south of Cairo.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities stated that the tomb, in the form of a medium-sized mastaba, contains two funerary chapels. One belongs to a man named Yunmin, who held several high-ranking positions, including judge, court director, and head of scribes specializing in reviewing petitions and complaints. The second chapel belongs to his father, Ity, who held clerical positions in the administration of agricultural lands and offerings.

Hesham Laila, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discovery adds new archaeological information about the Saqqara necropolis, shedding further light on the nature of tombs, their architectural and artistic styles, as well as the administrative roles held by senior state officials during this period of ancient Egyptian history.

Josep Serra i Vio, head of the mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, said: “The tomb contains two funerary chapels opening onto the eastern wall. Excavations revealed within them a distinctive architectural facade bearing funerary texts and offering formulas, along with a depiction of the tomb owner in an official capacity. The walls of the chapel are decorated with high-quality relief inscriptions depicting agricultural activities and processions transporting offerings to the tomb.”