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Archaeologists Uncover 4,300-Year-Old Tomb of Yunmen and His Father Ity at Saqqara

An Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission has discovered a 4,300-year-old mastaba tomb in the Saqqara necropolis south of Cairo. The tomb dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi during the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt's Old Kingdom. It was built for Yunmen, a high-ranking official who served as a judge and heard appeals from the kingdom's subjects, and his father, Ity, a senior scribe who oversaw agricultural lands and offerings. The tomb contains two funerary chapels, one for each official. The chapel for Yunmen features finely carved reliefs depicting agricultural activities, servants carrying offerings, and funeral rites. The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported that many of these carvings have retained their original colors after more than 40 centuries underground. The site was discovered during a summer excavation season as part of a joint project between the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities. Amr al-Tayeb, the director of the Saqqara site, stated that Yunmen's role aligns with the ancient Egyptian concept of Maat, the goddess of truth and justice. The discovery provides new data on the architecture, art, and administrative life of ancient Egypt at the end of the Fifth Dynasty.

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