A 4,400-year-old tomb of a courtier and "keeper of secrets" found in Egypt

A joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered a tomb in the necropolis of Saqqara dating to the reign of the pharaoh Djedkare Isesi, who lived at the end of the third millennium B.C.

The find is located north of Saqqara, in an area known as the "Mariette Cemetery." This was reported by Greek Reporter, citing Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The tomb is a mastaba — a rectangular funerary structure with a flat roof. Inside are two funerary chapels. The main one belonged to an official named Iunmin, who held the posts of judge, head of the court, and chief scribe responsible for petitions and complaints. It was he who bore the honorary title of "keeper of the pharaoh's secrets." The second was dedicated to his father, Iti, who managed agricultural lands and temple offerings.

The walls of the chapels are decorated with reliefs depicting farmers, donkeys, and people carrying goods for funerary rites. Many of the scenes have retained their original colors. In Iti's chapel, a false door was also discovered — a symbolic passage through which, according to ancient Egyptian beliefs, the deceased could receive offerings.

According to the head of the expedition, Josep Cervelló Autuori of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, an intricately carved facade with funerary texts and an image of the tomb's owner was found in the main chapel. Archaeologists have already completed the excavation and scientific documentation of both chapels, and have also carried out the restoration and conservation of the elements found.

The site has been known since the 19th century, when the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette explored Saqqara. However, the tomb had not been studied or documented using modern scientific methods. The new work will help scholars better understand the architecture and artistic features of the funerary structures of the Fifth Dynasty, as well as the role of high-ranking officials in the administrative system of ancient Egypt.