Egypt Uncovers Tombs from the 2nd, 3rd,18th Dynasties in Saqqara Necropolis.

The joint Egyptian-Japanese archaeological mission has uncovered mastabas, tombs, and burials that shed further light on the history of this significant archaeological area.

 

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy praised the efforts of both Egyptian and foreign archaeological missions in uncovering new findings that contribute to revealing more about the history and secrets of ancient Egyptian civilization.

 

During excavation work on the eastern slope of the Saqqara region, the joint mission between the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Kanazawa University in Japan discovered four tombs dating back to the late 2nd Dynasty and early 3rd Dynasty, along with more than ten burials from the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom.

 

Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, emphasized the significance of this discovery, stating that it confirms Saqqara still holds many undisclosed secrets. He noted that the discovery suggests the current Saqqara necropolis extends further north than previously thought. The finding of burials from the early 18th Dynasty also proves that Saqqara began being used as a necropolis for the New Kingdom when Memphis was reinstated as the capital of Egypt after the expulsion of the Hyksos.

Mohamed Abdel-Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the tombs from the 2nd and 3rd Dynasties include two mudbrick mastabas and two rock-cut tombs. One of these tombs is near the northern edge of the Saqqara plateau and features an above-ground structure and a shaft sealed with limestone at the entrance to the burial chamber. The second mastaba, adjacent to the rocky slope, comprises an upper part made of mudbrick and a rectangular shaft in its center. Additionally, several artifacts were discovered nearby, including an alabaster dish and a solid cylindrical vessel, likely dating to the late 2nd Dynasty and early 3rd Dynasty, along with a limestone seal. Further excavation in upcoming seasons will aim to uncover the contents of these finds.

Dr. Nozomu Kawai, the Japanese head of the mission, noted that this season’s work also included the restoration and cleaning of the Greco-Roman catacombs previously uncovered by the mission. During cleaning, the team found mummified human remains, terracotta models of funerary shrines, fragments of terracotta heads depicting the goddesses Isis and Aphrodite, as well as pieces of wooden coffins and pottery. The mission will continue its work in the next excavation season to unravel more secrets of this crucial archaeological site.