The Egyptian archaeological mission working in the Bubasteion necropolis in Saqqara has uncovered 3 rock-cut tombs dating back to the New Kingdom, during its scientific excavations in the eastern sector of the site's cliff. The discovery revealed hieroglyphic inscriptions and important archaeological elements that shed light on new aspects of the history of the ancient Memphis necropolis and enrich knowledge of the history of senior officials and society during that era.
Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy said the discovery confirms that Saqqara still holds archaeological treasures yet to be uncovered, noting that the successive discoveries in the area highlight the exceptional civilizational value of Saqqara, one of the most important World Heritage sites.
He praised the efforts of all Egyptian and foreign archaeological missions in continuing their scientific work, stressing that every new archaeological discovery is a qualitative addition to understanding ancient Egyptian civilization and helps complete the historical picture of one of humanity's greatest civilizations.
For his part, Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the importance of this discovery is not limited to finding new tombs, but extends to reviving the stories of their owners and recovering pages of their history that remained buried under the sand for thousands of years, giving each discovery a highly significant historical and human dimension and enriching studies of Egyptian society during the New Kingdom.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the discovery is part of the archaeological study project of the Bubasteion necropolis and opens the way for more discoveries in the coming seasons, especially as excavations continue inside burial shafts and areas not yet explored. These are expected to yield new archaeological and historical information that will help complete the picture of the tombs' owners and add new pages to the history of the Bubasteion necropolis, one of Saqqara's most important necropolises and richest in archaeological evidence documenting many aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization.
In a related context, Dr. Amr El-Taiby, Director General of the Saqqara Antiquities Area, said the first tomb belongs to a man named Montuhotep. Its northern walls feature finely executed scenes of offering bearers and hunting, as well as a large scene of the tomb owner seated with his mother, Iahhotep, in a depiction reflecting the family's high social standing.
The tomb's walls record a number of important titles, including hereditary prince, mayor, follower of the king, he who gladdens the heart of the ruler, overseer, overseer of foreign lands and overseer of the army of the city of Khebeshet, titles indicating that the tomb owner was one of the senior figures in the administration and army at the beginning of the New Kingdom.
The tomb contains a burial shaft whose excavation has not yet been completed and will resume in the next archaeological season, which may help reveal new information about the identity of Montuhotep's mother, the history of this family and its role in the ancient Egyptian administration.
He added that the second tomb belongs to a man named Paraemwia, also known as Samut, who held the title of chief of merchants of the House of Ptah. The tomb is a complete family record, preserving the names of his wife Tui, who held the title of lady of the house, and his mother Itbiu, who held the title of chantress of the god Amun, as well as the names of his four children, offering a rare picture of the family and social life of a prominent figure of the New Kingdom.
The third tomb belongs to a man named Nehesy. Although it is poorly preserved, what remains of its inscriptions holds important historical value, as it was possible to identify the owner's name and his title of overseer of the house, as well as the name of his wife Neferuptah, who held the title of lady of the house.
Among the most notable elements of this tomb is part of a column bearing a hieroglyphic text referring to the return of a commander from the land of Naharin in northern Syria. The text is of particular importance, as it not only helps date the tomb to the New Kingdom but also provides new evidence of the nature of Egypt's relations with the regions of the Near East during that period.
