Egyptian archaeologists have found near Cairo a more than 4000 year old tomb. It is exceptionally well preserved and distinguished by the coloured painting of the statues Inside, said the ancient Minister Khaled al-Anani on Saturday. “It is one of the most beautiful discoveries we have made in the past.”
The tomb belonged to a high priest with the name Wahtye and was discovered at the famous step pyramid in Saqqara, South of Cairo. It is 4400 years old and goes back to the ancient Egyptian Fifth dynasty. Wahtye was, therefore, under the king Neferirkare (CA. 2500 BC) in the office.
ancient Egyptian family scenes – vividly and in color
Al-Anani, a total of 18 niches with 24 relief are located in the approximately ten meters long and three meters wide and high, grave statues. See also colored scenes show the priest, his mother, his wife and his children are there. To identify music performances, sailing boats and hunting scenes, were the Egyptian Antiquity Department said.
The sealed entrance to the tomb had been discovered in November, but I can only be made after further excavation work opened, said the head of the excavations, Mustafa Wasiri. Name and title of the buried priest emerged from an inscription at the entrance.
tomb treasures of the priest could be discovered
Only a few days ago, five still sealed shafts had been discovered in the tomb, said Wasiri. There is a further grave could hide the treasures and possessions of the priest.
Egypt has announced several times in recent months the discovery of archaeological sites. So archaeologists discovered in the spring near the village of Minja on the Nile is a more than 2500-year-old dead city, with dozens of stone coffins and art treasures. A German-Egyptian team of researchers met in Cairo, also on limestone, with thousands of years of ancient inscriptions. Some of the findings on the 12. and 20. Dynasty of the Ancient Egyptians and therefore are up to about 4000 years old.
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Egypt expects from the findings, a boost for tourism, which has suffered as a result of the unrest after the overthrow of long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak in 2011, hard. The tourism industry is for the North African country is one of the most important sources of income. (dpa)
