In a “one-of-a-kind” find, a 4,400 year-old-tomb of a priest and his family was discovered by archaeologists in Egypt.
The well-preserved tomb was unearthed in Saqqara, a city south of Cairo and dated back to the rule of Neferirkare Kakai,
according to Khaled al-Anani, Egypt’s minister of antiquities.
Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the fifth dynasty of ancient Egypt which governed for almost two centuries, from 2,500 BC to about 2,350 BC According to metropolitan museum of art. The priest, named Wahtye, served during this time.
The tomb had remained untouched, said Mostafa Waziri, the secretary general of Egypt’s supreme council of antiquities, according to Reuters.
Its near-perfect condition makes it “one of a kind in the last decade,” Mr. Waziri said.
Since November, Nearly nine feet tall and 32 feet wide, the tomb has been under excavation.
The walls are decorated with colorful hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs, while sculptures of the buried priest and his family were placed in the tomb.
the tomb contains the biography of the cemetery owner. With drawings depicting a concert, including the nai and the fugitive, including the scenes of sacrifices and offerings. Inside the tomb there are 18 niches displaying 24 large colored statues carved in rock and depicting the owner of the tomb and his family.
Total 45 statues are found in this grave.
As reported by new york times , The authorities suggested that more objects of archaeological significance would be discovered once the excavation of five shafts begins, including the coffin or a sarcophagus of the priest. The work is expected to start in January.