{
  "id": 17398785,
  "title": "Ancient Egyptian official's tomb rediscovered in Saqqara with an untouched mummy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/ancient-egyptian-officials-tomb-rediscovered-in-saqqara-with-an",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T12:22:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-913349"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The tombs of two senior ancient Egyptian officials, Sabu and his son Ptahshepses, have been recently rediscovered in Saqqara, according to the Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry. The tombs are located in a region north of Ptahshepses' tomb, spanning approximately 54 by 28 meters and originally standing at around five meters in height. Alongside the tombs, archaeologists uncovered the offering chapel of Sabu's wife, Iykhet-nefret, as well as Ptahshepses' burial chamber and limestone sarcophagus. Although Sabu and Ptahshepses' tombs were first discovered by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette between 1858 and 1860, their excavation was incomplete and poorly documented. The current expedition, led by the Czech Institute of Egyptology, has made use of satellite imagery and field surveys to relocate the tombs. The team has discovered the first-ever offering chapel of Iykhet-nefret, a false door depicting scenes of her with her husband and their two sons, and exterior façades of Sabu's tomb that closely resemble those found on royal palaces. The offering chapel also contains well-preserved relief carvings showing Sabu and Ptahshepses supervising processesions of bearers of offerings. Ptahshepses is believed to have held high-ranking positions during the reigns of four Fifth Dynasty pharaohs, including Sahure, Neferirkare, Raneferef, and Nyuserre. He is thought to have married Princess Khamaat, daughter of Pharaoh Userkaf, the founder of the Fifth Dynasty. Though the tomb had been looted of its valuables, Ptahshepses' mummy remained untouched. Analysis of the remains revealed that Ptahshepses had died at an age exceeding 60, in keeping with historical records. Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy commended the Czech mission for shedding valuable light on the religious, social life, and funerary architecture during the Old Kingdom.",
  "summary": "Sabu and Ptahshepses’s tombs had originally been discovered between 1858 and 1860 by French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, founder of the Egyptian Antiquities Service",
  "key_points": [
    "Sabu and Ptahshepses' tombs rediscovered in Saqqara",
    "First-ever offering chapel of Iykhet-nefret found",
    "Ptahshepses, high-ranking official, died over 60"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}