Archaeologists have discovered long-lost ancient Egyptian tombs that were hiding beneath a stone well for more than 4,000 years.
Working at a site outside of Cairo, they uncovered four ancient tombs filled with vases, winding underground tunnels, and human skeletons at Saqqara.
Covering an area of around 4.3 by 0.9 miles, Saqqara was a famous an Egyptian village that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty.
Two of the tombs were comprised of mud bricks, and the other two were carved into surface-level rock located near the edge of the plateau, which featured tunnels leading to a burial chamber.
A mummy was also found in one of the tombs, still with wrappings around its body that laid in the dirt.
Notable discoveries inside the tombs included an Egyptian alabaster plate, a solid cylindrical bowl and cork that have all been dated to the late second or early third dynasty era by experts at the Ministry.
Amongst the objects unearthed were terracotta miniature replications of funeral shines and fragments from the heads of the ancient Egyptian and Roman Gods bearing likeness to Aphrodite and Isis.
The goddesses together revealed a meshing of cultures and beliefs during this era and perhaps even providing a lesson of harmony to the world of today with transparent overlap of the designations behind both of the idols.
Above-ground entrance to the network of tombs that was previously thought to be an ancient well carved from rock
A mummy was also found in the catacomb at the Saqqara, an ancient cemetery discovered in the 16th century that is the eternal home to pharaohs, officials, priests, and holy people
The excavation confirmed that the area was used during the New Kingdom for longer than a millennium, following the restoration of the ancient city of Memphis as the capital of the Egyptian state and the expulsion of the Hyksos.
Located near present-day Cairo, the ancient city of Memphis was considered to be a religious hub and administrative center for officials facilitating trade and socio-economic activities.
The expulsion of the Hyksos marked the beginning of the New Kingdom period, driving Asiatic people from Egypt to reunify the nation following a time of instability beneath native Egyptians’ foreign and oppressive rule.
A joint team of Egyptian and Japanese archeologists uncovered the four tombs on the eastern slope of the Saqqara archeological site.
Inside the tombs, underground passageways lead to burial chambers decorated with vibrant artwork displaying iconography and items of value that have been perfectly preserved beneath the Egyptian ground for thousands of years.
While the exploration gleans a greater insight to the events that happened so far into the past, it still remains unclear if the expulsion of the Hyksos was just one or several events resulting in a transitionary period to the New Kingdom.
The mission is set to conduct further excavations of nearby sites within the area as well as to continue with the excavation following the recent discovery.
Near the well, an additional discovery was made containing more than 10 human remains of burials dating to the 18th Dynasty of the New Kingdom dating back at least 3,2000 years.
Additional partially exposed entrance leading to underground tunnels and interconnected networks to tombs decorated with ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics leading to burial chambers.
Greco-Roman influenced pottery discovered inside of the tomb adjacent to skeletons, untouched since being laid to rest about 4,600 years ago
Ancient replication found during recent discovery within tomb thought to be ancient well
Other artifacts unearthed, both during this exploration and prior recent missions by this team include Greco-Roman influences stylistically dating objects to 332 BCE–396 AD.
These artifacts are reflective of the Grecian occupation of Egypt by Alexander the Great fusing ancient Egyptian culture and religion with the European forces that maintained power in Egypt during this time.
The team also uncovered one of the most intriguing figures yet from ancient Egypt, a physician and royal doctor.
A joint French-Swiss archaeological mission has uncovered the mastaba tomb of a royal physician named ‘Teti Neb Fu’ in the southern part of Saqqara
Teti Neb Fu held prestigious titles such as chief palace physician, priest and ‘magician’ in ancient Egypt.
His tomb and sarcophagus have been freshly uncovered in Egypt’s historic Saqqara burial site, about 25 miles southwest of capital Cairo.
The inside walls of the tomb feature stunning artworks, depicting Egyptian pottery, jewellery, hieroglyphics and more.
Archeologists say the resting place dates back to the reign of King Pepi II – meaning Teti Neb Fu lived and died about 4,000 years ago.
King Pepi II became king at an early age during the sixth dynasty of ancient Egypt, between 2305 and 2118 BC.
‘This incredible find adds to Saqqara’s rich legacy as one of Egypt’s most significant archaeological sites,’ said Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities in a Facebook post.
‘The tomb is adorned with stunning carvings and vibrant artwork, including a beautifully painted false door and scenes of funerary offerings.
