BIBLE HISTORY DAILY

More Discoveries at Saqqara

Egyptian necropolis larger than previously thought

Shaft tomb from Saqqara. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Continued excavations at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara in Egypt have revealed yet more of the site’s rich history, with tombs and mastabas discovered from both the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE) and New Kingdom (c. 1570–1069 BCE) periods, as well as discoveries from the necropolis’s Greco-Roman catacombs. Two separate teams of archaeologists made the new discoveries, with a joint Egyptian-Japanese mission working on the eastern slopes of the site and a French-Swiss mission excavating on the southern side.

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The joint Egyptian-Japanese mission uncovered two rock-cut tombs and two mastabas (rectangular tombs constructed from mudbrick or stone) dating to the late Second and early Third Dynasties. The tombs date to the 27th century BCE and predate the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza. One of the rock-cut tombs on the Saqqara plateau’s northern edge included a sealed shaft leading to the burial chamber. The team also discovered more than ten burials dating to the 18th Dynasty of Egypt’s New Kingdom. Additionally, while performing restoration work on a section of Greco-Roman catacombs that had previously been discovered, the team uncovered a collection of artifacts, including models of funerary shrines and fragments of clay heads of the goddesses Isis and Aphrodite.

A model funerary shrine. Shaft tomb from Saqqara. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

“This new evidence suggests that Saqqara was not only a major burial site during the Old Kingdom but also became significant during the New Kingdom when Memphis was reinstated as Egypt’s capital following the expulsion of the Hyksos,” said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. Khaled further suggested that the discoveries demonstrate that the ancient necropolis extended farther north than previously thought.

Meanwhile, a joint French-Swiss mission, working on the southern side of the necropolis, uncovered the mastaba of the royal official Titi-nebfu, who lived during the reign of Pepi II (r. 2278–2216 BCE). The mastaba included a plethora of vibrant artwork, such as a painted false door and scenes of funerary offerings for the deceased. While the mastaba had been looted in antiquity, the structure remained intact and the team discovered the official’s stone sarcophagus, which recorded his name and many titles, including chief palace physician and priest of the goddess Serket.

False door to the tomb of Titi-nebfu. Courtesy Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The necropolis of Saqqara has continued to provide incredible finds from across the span of Egyptian history. Among the finds have been hundreds of sarcophagi, human and animal mummies, grave goods, statues, and more. In the future, the Egyptian team hopes to discover the tomb of Imhotep, who was deified after his death and is remembered as one of ancient history’s most important architects.

All of the finds from the Saqqara tombs are expected to be brought to the Grand Egyptian Museum, which has recently opened. The artifacts will be studied, preserved, and curated for future display. It is hoped that the creation of this new national museum, along with its hoard of incredible new treasures and their associated media buzz, will help rejuvenate a tourism industry that suffered greatly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article was first published in Bible History Daily on January 13, 2025.

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