Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed three rock-cut tombs dating to the New Kingdom period at the Bubasteion necropolis in Saqqara, Egypt. The tombs turned up in the eastern section of the site’s mountain ridge during ongoing excavation work.
Researchers said the find includes hieroglyphic inscriptions and artifacts that shed new light on the history of ancient Memphis, one of Egypt’s most important burial sites.
Sherif Fathy, Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, said that the discovery shows Saqqara still holds treasures waiting to be found. He said that the steady stream of finds in the area reflects the site’s outstanding historical value.
Fathy praised Egyptian and foreign archaeological teams, saying every discovery adds to the understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the discovery means more than finding new tombs. He said that it brings back the stories of the people buried there, stories hidden under the sand for thousands of years.
El-Leithy said that each find carries deep historical and human meaning, adding to research on Egyptian society during the New Kingdom.
Rock-cut tombs add to Egypt’s growing archaeological record
Mohamed Abdel-Badie, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the tombs were found as part of a study of the Bubasteion necropolis.
He said that excavation will continue in burial shafts and unexplored areas in coming seasons. The rock-cut tombs add to a long list of finds that make Saqqara one of Egypt’s richest archaeological sites.
Amr El-Taibi, General Director of Saqqara Antiquities, gave details on each tomb. The first belonged to a man named Mentuhotep. Its northern walls show detailed scenes of offering bearers and hunting, along with a large image of Mentuhotep seated beside his mother, Iah-Hotep.
Inscriptions list several of his titles, including “hereditary prince,” “mayor,” and “overseer of the army of Khebeshet,” pointing to a senior role in government and the military. A burial shaft inside the tomb remains only partly excavated and will be explored further next season.
Second and third tombs reveal family and military ties
The second tomb belonged to Baraq Em Waya, also known as Samut, who served as chief merchant of the House of Ptah. It names his wife, Tuy, his mother Atbayu, a singer of the god Amun, and his four children.
The third tomb, badly damaged, belonged to a man named Nehesy, who held the title “overseer of the house.” His wife, Neferu Ptah, is also named.
A fragment of an inscribed column refers to a military leader returning from Naharin, a region north of Syria, offering new evidence of Egypt’s contacts with the Near East.
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