Researchers have discovered an ancient Egyptian tomb in the necropolis of Saqqara, which is about 20 miles south of Cairo.
Carved into rock over 4,000 years ago, the tomb will help enrich our understanding of the craftsmanship and funerary practices of ancient Egyptians, providing “invaluable insights into the history of this region,” excavation leader Nozomu Kawai told Ahram Online.
Archaeologists from Japan and Egypt collaborated to complete the dig at the ancient site of Saqqara, a five mile stretch of land along the Nile’s west bank. Once the burial ground for the Egyptian capital of Memphis, Saqqara is home to archaeological sites that span many centuries.
Ancient Egyptians often buried their dead wearing decorative masks. These objects were not created to depict the wearer’s own face, but an idealized, youthful visage, which facilitated the deceased’s journey into the Egyptian afterlife.
“The artifacts and burials uncovered provide a window into the lives of those who lived in this ancient civilization,” said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Additionally, researchers found two terracotta statues of Isis, the Egyptian goddess associated with magic and resurrection, and one of the child deity Harpocrates riding a goose. The goose symbolizes “an evil spirit over which the Divine Child triumphs,” Kawai told Live Science.
The team also recovered amulets, pottery tools and pieces of pottery (called ostraca) that feature hieratic inscriptions, or cursive hieroglyphics. These kinds of grave goods were buried with the dead in the hopes that they could be used in the afterlife.