Archaeologists in Egypt have uncovered a rare funerary cache at the 3,200-year-old tomb of Panehsy in Matariya, Ain Shams, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said.
The discovery was made during excavations by an Egyptian mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Officials said the cache contains the first nearly complete set of funerary furniture found in the area. The find also includes rare artifacts, cosmetic tools, symbolic objects, and metal earrings believed to be made of gold.
The tomb lies within the ancient Heliopolis necropolis. The city, known in ancient times as Iunu or On, was one of Egypt’s oldest religious centers. It was closely linked to the worship of Ra, the sun god.
Officials say discovery adds to Heliopolis history
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s minister of tourism and antiquities, said the discovery reflects the success of Egyptian archaeological missions in re-examining the history of Heliopolis. He said the finds offer a clearer view of daily life and burial customs in the area across different periods.
Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the excavation first revealed a mudbrick burial with human skeletal remains. As archaeologists continued work beneath it, they found a cache containing objects linked to funerary rituals.
Cosmetic tools and symbolic objects found
The finds included a copper mirror and two alabaster kohl containers with lids. The containers still held traces of kohl, an eye cosmetic used in ancient Egypt. The team also found a third kohl container made of black obsidian, a rare material in this type of setting.
The mission, led by Qutb Fawzi Qutb, head of the Central Administration of Cairo and Giza Antiquities, also uncovered two light-blue faience vessels. One vessel contained six inscribed scarabs. Two of them were set in a yellow metal frame believed to be gold.
Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of the Ancient Egyptian Antiquities Sector, said the cache also held several faience amulets. They included an amulet shaped like a duck and another in the form of the Atef crown, a symbol linked to ancient Egyptian religion.
Earrings and stones point to rich burial customs
Archaeologists also found four stones, including two believed to be agate. One reddish-pink stone was set in a yellow metal frame, possibly gold. Another stone had a greenish-blue color.
The cache also contained five pairs of yellow metal earrings in different sizes. Officials said the earrings may be gold. Their diameters range from 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters.
Earlier finds show long use of the site
The discovery builds on earlier work at the site this season. Archaeologists had already uncovered mudbrick and limestone funerary structures, along with two coffins found in stacked fragments. One coffin was pottery. The other was plaster, with a gilded appearance and red inscriptions.
Officials said the plaster coffin contained gilded remains that may belong to a military figure. A coin found with it may date to the Roman period. Limestone blocks with hieroglyphic inscriptions were also uncovered.
The ministry said the site shows how the Panehsy tomb necropolis was used across several periods, from the Late Period through the Roman era and into Christian times. Researchers said the finds could help explain how burial customs changed in one of ancient Egypt’s most sacred cities.
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