Unveiling Ancient Splendor: Remarkable Discoveries at Gisr el-Mudir in Saqqara

Recent Discoveries in Gisr el-Mudir in Saqqara Dr. Zahi Hawᴀss, the director of the Egyptian excavation team working with the Supreme Council of Antiquities at Gisr el-Mudir, Saqqara, announced today that the expedition has made a number of important archaeological discoveries dating to the fifth and sixth dynasties of the Old Kingdom.

Dr. Hawᴀss also stated that the expedition had found a group of Old Kingdom tombs, indicating that the site comprised a large cemetery. The most important tomb belonged to Khnumdjedef, an inspector of the officials, a supervisor of the nobles, and a priest in the pyramid complex of Unas, the last kind of the fifth dynasty. The tomb is decorated with scenes of daily life.


The second largest tomb belonged to Meri, who held many important тιтles, such as keeper of the secrets and ᴀssistant of the great leader of the palace.
Also, a tomb for a priest and a group consists of nine beautiful statues were found: one represents a man and his wife; several are servant statues; and others represent individuals. Unfortunately, the expedition did not find any inscriptions that might identify the owners of these statues. However, several months after the original discovery, the mission found a false door near the site where the statues were discovered. The owner of the false door was named Messi; therefore, Messi might be the owner of the nine statues.


The Expedition found another beautiful statue of a standing man, with his wife holding his right leg and his daughter on the other side holding a goose
Dr. Hawᴀss announced that the most important was the discovery of a shaft 15m deep. A large rectangular limestone sarcophagus was found at the bottom of this shaft. Thanks to the inscriptions on the top of the sarcophagus, we know the owner’s name is HqA-Sps (Hekashepes). Many stone vessels were found around the sarcophagus.


When the sarcophagus was examined, it was found to be completely sealed with mortar, just as the ancient Egyptians had left it 4300 years ago. When the lid was raised, we found the mummy of a man covered with gold leaf. This mummy may be the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date.


The expedition also found a shaft about 10m deep. Inside this shaft was found a group of beautiful wooden statues. In addition, the mission discovered three stone statues representing a person named Fetek. Beside these statues was an offering table and a stone sarcophagus that contained his mummy.


Dr Mostafa Waziry, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, also announced that the expedition has found a group of unique stone statues dating to the Old Kingdom. Many statues have been found at Saqqara over the past century, but this is the largest group of such objects found in recent years.


The expedition yielded many amulets, stone vessels, tools for daily life, and statues of Ptah-Sokar.

Related Posts

500-Million-Year-Old Shoe Print: A Fossilized Footprint That Defies Human History?

500-Million-Year-Old Shoe Print: A Fossilized Footprint That Defies Human History?

A perplexing discovery has been reported: a fossilized shoe print, estimated to be approximately 500 million years old, has elicited significant intrigue and debate among scientists regarding…

The Hercules Mastai Statue: A Roman Treasure’s Journey Through Time

A Serendipitous Discovery in 19th Century Rome In August 1864, the tranquil courtyard of Palazzo Pio Righetti in Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori became the stage for an…

Mount Roraima: The Enigmatic Lost World of Venezuela

A Geological Wonder Frozen in Time In the remote Gran Sabana region of Venezuela stands a natural marvel that has captivated the imagination of scientists, adventurers, and…

Echoes of Power: Ramses III and the Hieroglyphs of Medinet Habu

A Temple of Triumph and Divine Narrative At the edge of Luxor, where ancient stories whisper through stone, the mortuary temple of Ramses III at Medinet Habu…

Rome’s Ancient Bronze Doors: A 2,000-Year Legacy of Engineering Marvel

Standing as silent sentinels at the entrance of Rome’s magnificent Pantheon, the world’s oldest functioning doors tell a remarkable story of Roman ingenuity and architectural brilliance. These…

The Sennacherib Prism: Unveiling Ancient ᴀssyria’s Conquest of Judah

Unearthing a Mesopotamian Treasure In 1830, British archaeologist Colonel Robert Taylor made a remarkable discovery that would captivate historians for centuries to come. He unearthed a clay…