Old Kingdom official’s tomb and more than 100 ushabti found at Saqqara

Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered the Old Kingdom tomb of a senior official at Saqqara, alongside later burial shafts containing more than 100 faience ushabti figurines and other funerary objects.

The tomb belonged to Sekhentiu-Ptah. Its surviving chapel retains a symbolic false door in its original position, with an arranged set of alabaster ritual objects in front of it, including an offering table, purification basin and jug. Because the objects were found where they had been placed, researchers can study their relationship to one another for evidence about Old Kingdom funerary practices.

Hieroglyphic inscriptions identify Sekhentiu-Ptah and record titles including royal chamberlain, overseer of the king’s works, keeper of royal secrets and priest of the goddess Maat, indicating a prominent position in the royal administration.

A separate, interconnected network of shafts preserves a later chapter of the cemetery’s history. Archaeologists found human burials, painted funerary cartonnage, pottery, a wooden falcon figure, three sealed stone sarcophagi and the ushabti figurines. Although some shafts appear to have been looted in antiquity, substantial material survived.

The discoveries came during the Egyptian mission’s first excavation season west of the Bubasteion necropolis. Documentation and analysis are continuing, with specialist publication planned after further study.