Tomb Of Old Kingdom Official Sekhentiu-Ptah Discovered In Saqqara

(MENAFN- USA Art News) An Egyptian archaeological team has unearthed the tomb of Sekhentiu-Ptah, a high-ranking official from Egypt's Old Kingdom (approximately 2700–2200 BCE), at the Saqqara necropolis. In a separate finding, archaeologists also discovered a network of burial shafts containing human remains and funerary objects from later periods, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, as reported by Heritage Daily. These discoveries were made during the mission's initial excavation season in an area west of Saqqara's Bubasteion necropolis, highlighting the ancient cemetery's long history of use.

Sekhentiu-Ptah's tomb contained the remnants of a funerary chapel, including a false door still in its original position. Alabaster objects such as an offering table, an offering implement, a purification basin, a vessel, and a mat were found arranged in front of it. Mohamed Abdel Badi, head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector, emphasized the importance of these objects, which offer researchers a clearer understanding of Old Kingdom burial practices because they were found undisturbed.

Hieroglyphic inscriptions on the false door and funerary objects identified Sekhentiu-Ptah and listed several of his titles. These included royal chamberlain, supervisor of the king's works, supervisor of royal documents, keeper of royal secrets, priest of the goddess Maat, and supervisor of the library. Adjacent to this tomb, archaeologists uncovered later burials containing human remains, painted funerary cartonnage, three sealed sarcophagi, and over 100 faience ushabti figurines. Preliminary examinations suggest these later burials were looted in antiquity, with passages between them believed to have been created by ancient robbers. Amr El-Tayeb, Director-General of the Saqqara Archaeological Area and head of the mission, stated that the surviving material will provide insights into funerary practices, especially those from Egypt's Late Period (664–332 BCE).

The Saqqara archaeological site, located 20 miles south of Cairo, served as the primary necropolis for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, founded around 3100 BCE and abandoned in the 7th century CE. These latest findings further underscore its remarkable longevity as a burial ground.

Source: ARTnews

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