Ancient 4,400-year-old tomb unearthed in Egypt

A private tomb, over 4,000 years old, with incredibly well-preserved artwork, has been discovered south of Cairo at the Saqqara site, as confirmed by Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities.

Egypt's Antiquities Minister, Khaled al-Anani, confirmed that the tomb was found at the Saqqara archaeological site and dates back to the 5th dynasty of the pharaohs, approximately 4,400 years ago.

The tomb belonged to a royal purification priest named 'Wahtye,' according to al-Anani's statement. Inscriptions indicated that he served during the reign of King Nefer-Ir-Ka-Re, overseeing the king’s holy boat.

Al-Anani also mentioned that the walls of the tomb were adorned with vibrant scenes showing Wahtye with his mother, wife, and family.

The leader of the excavation team, Mostafa Waziri, mentioned that other drawings depicted scenes of wine and pottery production, musical performances, sailing, hunting, and the crafting of funeral furniture.

Waziri explained that his team had reached the tomb in November, but it took a while to access it as the doors were sealed shut.

According to Waziri, about 50 niches inside the tomb held colored rock-carved statues, including figures of a person standing or in the pose of a scribe.

He suggested, 'This statue could belong to the deceased or one of their family members.'

Sabry Farag, the general director of the site, stated that the tomb measures approximately 10 meters (33 feet) in length and 3 meters (10 feet) in width, with an additional basement area.

Waziri also revealed that the tomb contained five burial shafts, which will be further explored in future excavations.

In November, the Ministry of Antiquities announced the discovery of seven tombs at Saqqara, including a mass cat cemetery and a collection of rare mummified scarab beetles.

Saqqara is renowned for housing the iconic Step Pyramid.