Cairo - Egypt

The joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission, working in the Saqqara antiquities area, announced the discovery of a cemetery dating back to the late Fifth Dynasty, specifically to the reign of King Djedkare Issi, during the 2026 excavation season in the area known as the “Mariette Cemetery” north of Saqqara.

A mastaba that holds the secrets of Pharaonic justice

The discovered tomb is a medium-sized mastaba that includes two funerary chambers. The first cabin belongs to a person named “Yunmin,” a prominent judicial official who held high-ranking positions, including judge, court director, and chief clerk specializing in examining petitions and complaints. As for the second cabin, it belongs to his father, “Itti,” who worked in clerical jobs related to the management of agricultural lands and offerings, in a scene that reveals an ancient administrative dynasty in the Old Kingdom.

Colors that retain their luster after thousands of years
Excavations inside the "Yunmin" shrine revealed an architectural façade bearing funerary texts and a formula for offerings, in addition to a depiction of the tomb's owner in an official guise. The walls were decorated with prominent, high-quality scenes depicting agricultural activities and processions transporting sacrifices, and a large number of them retained their original colors, which reflects the amazing artistic level achieved by the artists of that period. As for the southern compartment of “Itti,” it includes an imaginary door and colorful decorations, although a large part of it has been lost over time.

Exceptional scientific importance

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr. Hisham Al-Laithi, stressed the importance of the new archaeological discovery by saying:

The new archaeological discovery adds new archaeological information about the Saqqara cemetery during the late Fifth Dynasty. It also sheds more light on the nature of the tombs and their architectural and artistic styles, in addition to the administrative positions held by senior state officials during this period in the history of ancient Egypt.

He pointed out that the site of the mastaba had been known since the excavations of the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette in the nineteenth century, but it had not previously been subject to archaeological excavation and documentation according to an integrated scientific approach.

Excavation details
For his part, the head of the mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​Dr. Josep Ser Vio Autori, explained that the tomb includes two compartments that open on the eastern wall of the mastaba, and the main compartment of the “Yonmin” is located on the northern side. He added that the excavation work included complete scientific documentation of the two shrines, in addition to an integrated program for maintenance, restoration and archaeological preservation of the discovered architectural and decorative elements, ensuring their preservation for future generations.

A promising investment opportunity in an eternal civilization
This new discovery constitutes a qualitative addition to tourist destinations in Egypt, as the Saqqara region is considered one of the most important archaeological destinations in the world, thanks to the abundance of tombs and temples dating back to different eras of ancient Egyptian history. This discovery opens the door to promising investment opportunities in the cultural tourism sector, through the development of new tourist routes linking the discovered tomb with other Saqqara landmarks, in addition to investing in tourism and hotel services needed by the increasing visitors to the region. The growing global interest in Egyptian antiquities also creates opportunities to invest in digital content, such as documentary videos and virtual tours, that promote these discoveries to a wider audience, which enhances the economic returns of this vital sector.