Saed News: Archaeologists discovered a mummy in a 15-meter-deep well south of Cairo; a site where three other tombs were also found.
Saed News reports: Archaeologists have announced the discovery of a gold leaf-covered mummy in Egypt, sealed inside a coffin for 4,300 years.
It is said that this mummy is the remains of a man named “Hekashepes,” one of the oldest and most complete non-royal bodies ever found in Egypt. Archaeologists uncovered the mummy in a 15-meter-deep shaft south of Cairo, where three other tombs were also discovered.
One of these tombs belonged to a person named “Mery,” who, according to archaeologists, was the “Hidden Guardian” of the Pharaoh—a priestly title appointed by a senior palace official that granted the authority to perform specific religious ceremonies.
The largest mummy found in this ancient cemetery belongs to a man named “Khnummedjef,” who was a priest, inspector, and overseer of the nobility. Another tomb reportedly contains the burial of a judge and scribe named “Petek.” This tomb also yielded a collection of statues, said to be the largest statues ever found in the area.
Regarding the age of the mummy and tombs, Zahi Hawass, archaeologist and former Egyptian Minister of Antiquities, stated that all the discoveries date back to between the 25th and 22nd centuries BCE. In addition to the mummy and tombs, several other artifacts, including pottery, were found among the ancient graves.
Ali Abu Deishesh, another archaeologist involved in the excavation, emphasized the significance of the find:
“This discovery is very important because it connects the kings with the people who lived around them.”
Saqqara has been a burial site for over 3,000 years in Egyptian history and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. This ancient area in the ancient capital Memphis contains over ten pyramids, including the Step Pyramid. Just yesterday, archaeologists successfully uncovered an entire 1,800-year-old Roman city beneath the southern city of Luxor, Egypt.
