Egypt tomb: Saqqara 'one of a kind' discovery revealed

15 December 2018

News image — Journalists were allowed into the newly-discovered tomb, which experts have called "exceptionally well-preserved"

AFP/Getty Images Journalists enter a newly-discovered tomb at the Saqqara necropolis, 30 kilometres south of the Egyptian capital Cairo — Journalists were allowed into the newly-discovered tomb, which experts have called "exceptionally well-preserved"

Archaeologists in Egypt have made an exciting tomb discovery - the final resting place of a high priest, untouched for 4,400 years.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, described the find as "one of a kind in the last decades".

The tomb, found in the Saqqara pyramid complex near Cairo, is filled with colourful hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs. Decorative scenes show the owner, a royal priest named Wahtye, with his mother, wife and other relatives.

Archaeologists will start excavating the tomb on 16 December, and expect more discoveries to follow - including the owner's sarcophagus.

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Here's what they've found already...

AFP/Getty Images Coloured statues and hieroglyphs inside the tomb at Saqqara — The private tomb is part of a vast, ancient necropolis in Saqqara - where the earliest known Egyptian pyramids are located

AFP/Getty Images A view of the tomb's exterior, showing its entrance set into rising walls of stone — The tomb was found in a buried ridge, which may help explain why it escaped looters

AFP/Getty Images A wall covered in engraved hieroglyphs, including people, weighing scales, birds and what appears to be food — The walls of the tomb are covered in hieroglyphs, the writing system of ancient Egypt

Reuters Four statues of people carved into the wall of the tomb — The ancient Egyptians often carved sculptures into the walls of tombs and temples

Reuters Mustafa Abdo, chief of excavation, stands inside the newly-discovered tomb of Wahtye — Mustafa Abdo is the project's chief of excavation. The tomb is 10m (33 ft) long, 3m (9.8ft) wide, and a little under 3m high

Reuters Coloured statues in alcoves inside the tomb — Priests were important people in ancient Egyptian society, as pleasing the gods was a top priority

EPA A man takes photos of the well-preserved hieroglyphs inside the newly-discovered tomb of Wahtye — The tomb's colours have survived unusually well for almost 4,400 years, experts said

Reuters A statue is seen inside the newly-discovered tomb of Wahtye, which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai — The artefacts date from the Fifth Dynasty, which ruled Egypt from around 2,500 BC to 2,350

EPA A view of coloured scenes depicting the owner of the tomb and his family — The coloured wall scenes depict the owner, a high priest, with his family

Reuters An Egyptian archaeological worker stands inside the newly-discovered tomb of "Wahtye", which dates from the rule of King Neferirkare Kakai, at the Saqqara area near its necropolis, in Giza, Egypt, December 15, 2018. — Archaeologists plan to explore the tomb further, and should find the priest's coffin soon

The 4,400-year-old tomb is filled with hieroglyphs and statues

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