Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Egyptian tomb more than 4 thousand years old

A human skeleton with a colored mask was found next to a burial vessel.

An ancient tomb believed to be over 4,000 years old has been discovered in Egypt. Scientists also found in it the skeleton of an adult, buried in a colored mask, next to an alabaster vessel and the remains of a small child.

A team of Egyptian and Japanese archaeologists in Saqqara discovered burials, architectural elements and other artifacts during their mission. Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities confirmed the findings.

During the excavations, the remains of a man buried in a colored mask and the burial of a small child were found. According to the Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram, the finds date back to the Second Dynasty. According to experts, the tomb dates back to between 2649 and 2150 BC.

Other artifacts discovered include a tomb from the 18th Dynasty, better known as the Thutmosid Dynasty, named after one of the pharaohs. A well-preserved alabaster vessel was found inside it. Burials from the Ptolemaic era, when Alexandria existed and Alexander the Great ruled, were also found.

Archaeologists say they have found terracotta statues depicting the ancient Egyptian goddess Isis, a deity who originally figured prominently in funerary rites. She was the goddess of life and magic, so she was believed to serve as the protector of women and children. Next to her they found a figure personifying the child deity and the god of silence and secrets in the Ptolemaic era, Harpocrates.

According to Al-Ahram, the many finds also included various amulets, pottery models and ostraca (pieces of broken pottery with hieratic inscriptions, a cursive script used in ancient Egypt).

A statement from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities states: “A joint Egyptian-Japanese archaeological mission from the Supreme Council of Archeology and Waseda University was able to discover a rock tomb from the Second Dynasty, a number of architectural elements, burials and archaeological finds in the Saqqara region.”

During the work, registration and archaeological documentation of all archaeological finds discovered at the excavation site was carried out.

“The find provides invaluable insight into the history of this region,” notes the head of the Japanese team, Nozomu Kawai, in an interview with the Egyptian publication.

The head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt, Mustafa Waziri, emphasized that “the discovered artifacts and burials open a window into the lives of those who lived in this ancient civilization.”