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Two Old Kingdom tombs have recently been discovered at Saqqara by an Egyptian team working at the Bubasteion necropolis, and a Spanish Egyptian team excavating at the ‘Mariette Necropolis’ to the north.
The remains of a funerary chapel with a surviving false door were found to the west of the Bubasteion. The tomb belonged to an important official called Sekhentiuptah, whose numerous titles included ‘Royal Chamberlain’, ‘Overseer of All the King’s Works’, and ‘Overseer of Royal Documents’. A complete set of inscribed alabaster funerary ritual implements – including an offering table, a purification basin, and a ewer and basin – was discovered in front of the false door. In a network of interconnected burial shafts, the team found much later human burials, which had been looted in antiquity. They contained large quantities of painted funerary cartonnage, and more than 100 faience shabtis, three sealed stone coffins, a wooden falcon statue, and pottery vessels.
In the Mariette Necropolis, while excavating a late Fifth Dynasty mastaba originally discovered in the 19th century, the Spanish-Egyptian team discovered two funerary chapels inside. These structures belonged to ‘Judge’ and ‘Court Director’ Yunmin, and his father Iti – a scribe in the administration of agricultural lands and offerings. The chapel walls bear high-quality painted reliefs depicting agricultural activities and processions bringing offerings to the tomb.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Images: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
