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Old Kingdom Tomb Discovered

Egyptian archaeologists unveiled two rock-hewn painted tombs belonging to a man who had a supervising role in the construction of pyramids -- and his son.

08-31-10 - Press Release

Id, Egypt, Africa

It's considered among the most distinguished Old Kingdom tombs. Dating from around 4,300 years old, the burials feature vividly colored wall paintings -- as fresh as if they were just painted. They were found in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo by an Egyptian team working in the area since 1986.

Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the leader of the excavation, said that the tombs belonged to a father, Shendwa, and his son, Khonsu.

Consisting of a false door with paintings depicting scenes of the deceased seated before an offering table, Shendwa’s tomb featured inscriptions with the different titles of the tomb’s owner.

According to the inscriptions, Shendwa was a top governmental official during the Sixth Dynasty (2374-2191 B.C.). He was the head of the royal scribes and the supervisor of the missions managing the materials used for pyramid construction.

Beneath the false door, 20 meters below the ground level, the archaeologists found the burial chamber.

When Dr. Hawass descended into the tomb he realized that it was intact and had not previously been plundered by tomb robbers. Unfortunately Shendwa’s wooden sarcophagus had disintegrated due to humidity and erosion.

In the burial chamber, a collection of limestone jars was found which included five offering vessels carved in the shape of a duck.

The most important object found in the burial chamber was a 30-centimeter-high limestone obelisk, a symbol of worshipping the sun god Re.

“Next to Shendwa’s tomb, the archaeologists found the burial of his son Khonsu. Beautifully painted, it also featured a false door inscribed with Khonsu’s titles.

The tomb also contained an offering table and a stone lintel engraved with 6th Dynasty symbols.

Above the false door, there was was a brightly colored relief showing of the deceased Khonsu in different poses.

The tombs lie in an area known as Gisr El-Mudir, west of Saqqara's famous pyramid, the Step Pyramid of King Djoser. According to the archaeologists, the discovery of the two tombs could lead to unearthing a vast cemetery in the area.

Discovery News
SCA-Supreme Council of Antiquities