Czech Archaeologists Rediscover Long-Lost Tombs of Ancient Egyptian High Officials

Czech archaeologists working at Saqqara have re-excavated a group of tombs belonging to high priests and senior officials of Egypt’s Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE). The news was first reported by Ahram Online following an announcement by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

Located 20 miles south of Cairo, the Saqqara archaeological site was the main necropolis for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis, which was founded around 3100 BCE and abandoned in the 7th century CE. The excavations were made as part of a project by the Czech Institute of Egyptology to locate, excavate, and document tombs partially explored in the 19th century and buried again over time.

These tombs were first discovered by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, between 1858 and 1860. During those years, Mariette identified approximately 160 tombs in the area dating to the Old Kingdom. However, his excavations focused largely on major artifacts while leaving other parts of the tombs unexplored and inadequately documented.

Among the chief monuments investigated by the Czech mission are the tombs of a man called Sabu and his son Ptahshepses, both of whom were high-ranking officials associated with the cult of Ptah at Memphis. The team also excavated and documented previously unknown parts of the tombs, including an offering chapel belonging to Sabu’s wife, Ikhetnefert, which was never found by Mariette.

Located north of the tomb of his son, Sabu’s tomb has exterior walls mimicking the facades of royal palaces, reflecting his high standing. Inside, researchers found well-preserved reliefs depicting Sabu and Ptahshepses overseeing processions of offering bearers.

Ikhetnefert’s chapel contains a false door decorated with scenes of Ikhetnefert with her husband and their two sons, Peahshepses and Raneferef. According to Miroslav Bárta, head of the Czech team, it is one of team’s most important discoveries, providing new insight into the family and its relationships.

The mission also succeeded in locating the tomb of Ptahshepses through a combination of satellite imagery and field surveys. Here, the archaeologists found the untouched remains of his mummy inside a limestone sarcophagus. Their subsequent analysis indicated that he was over 60 when he died, making him exceptionally long-lived for his time.

According to surviving written sources, Ptahshepses held senior positions under four Fifth Dynasty kings: Sahure, Neferirkare, Raneferef, and Nyuserre. He was the first non-royal to marry an Egyptian princess, Khamaat, daughter of King Userkaf, the founder of the Fifth Dynasty.

In a statement, Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that the significance of the Czech mission’s renewed investigation lies in its study and documentation of these monuments using modern scientific methods, which are revealing new information about the religious beliefs and social lives of Old Kingdom officials.