CAIRO: Egypt’s most famous archaeologist has announced the discovery of dozens of new finds, including two ancient tombs in a Pharaonic necropolis just outside Cairo.
Zahi Hawass, a former government minister and director of excavations, said the remains found at Saqqara, near the Pyramids of Giza, date back to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties of the Old Kingdom, dating back to around 2500-2100 BCE.
“The joint mission’s excavation work with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities discovered tombs from the Old Kingdom era, indicating the presence of a vast cemetery with many important tombs,” he said.
“The first of these is the tomb of Khnumjedef, overseer of the nobles and priests in the pyramid complex of Unas, the last king of the Fifth Dynasty. The tomb is colorful and contains scenes from daily life.
“The second is for Messi, known as the Keeper of Secrets and assistant commander of the great palace,” Hawass said.
The team also discovered a number of colorful limestone figurines representing the servants Messia is believed to have owned.
They said they also found a limestone sarcophagus belonging to a man named Haka Shabis in a hidden room at the bottom of a 15-metre well.
“It became clear that this coffin had not been touched for some 4,300 years. When we opened the lid, we found the mummy of a man wrapped in gold foil. It is believed to be the most complete and oldest non-royal mummy ever found.” Is.
There were also several statues representing the judge and scribe Phatak, located next to an offering table and a coffin containing his mummified body.
Dr. Mustafa Waziri, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that many statues had been unearthed in the Saqqara area in the last century, but very few were of the size of the latest discoveries.
“The present find includes numerous amulets, cosmetic instruments, figurines of Ptah Sokar, figurines in the form of deities, as well as pottery and votive vessels.”
Hawass said the Saqqara archaeological area still has many mysteries waiting to be discovered.