A joint Spanish-Egyptian mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Supreme Council of Antiquities revealed a beautifully decorated mastaba tomb in the Mariette Cemetery, north of Saqqara.
What was found
- A medium-sized mastaba with two funerary chapels.
- The northern chapel belongs to Yunmin, a judge and court director who led the scribes handling petitions and complaints. Its walls show high-quality reliefs of farm work and offering processions, many still in their original colours.
- The southern chapel belongs to his father, Iti, and contains a false door and painted offering scenes.
Why it matters
The tomb dates to the late Fifth Dynasty, during the reign of King Djedkare Isesi, around 4,400 years ago. Although the area was first explored in the 19th century, this tomb had never been fully excavated and recorded until now.
Source: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, as reported by Archaeology Magazine.
