Five graves dating back some 4,000 years recently uncovered at the Egyptian necropolis Saqqara 24 km (15 miles) southwest of Cairo were likely built for high-ranking Egyptian officials, researchers believe.
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The five tombs were unearthed earlier this month and date back to the Old Kingdom – a period spanning roughly from around 2,700 BCE to 2,200 BCE, as well as to the First Intermediate Period, which lasted for over a century after the Old Kingdom collapsed, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Located near the pyramid of King Merenre I, they also contained large stone coffins, wooden coffins and other artefacts including small statues and pottery.
Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said Egyptian archeologists started excavating the site in September. The tombs, he said, were for senior officials including regional rulers and palace supervisors in ancient Egypt.
According to Waziri, the first tomb comprises a deep burial shaft and a chamber decorated with images that included altars and a depiction of the palace, as well as a sarcophagus carved from limestone.
Researchers believe they have matched the second tomb to the wife of a man named Yaret.
The third tomb is believed to have been the resting place of Pepi Nefhany, who served as a priest and supervisor, while the fourth tomb held the grave of a female priest of Hathor named Petty.
The fifth tomb was built for Henu, who researchers say served as an overseer and supervisor of the royal house.
"All of those five tombs are well-painted, well-decorated. Excavations did not stop. We are planning to continue our excavations. We believe that we can find more tombs in this area," he told reporters at the site.
Footage shared on the ministry's social media pages showed burial shafts leading to the tombs. Walls were seen decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions and images of sacred animals and after-life items used by ancient Egyptians.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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