Archaeologists unearth ancient Egyptian tomb of father and son



Archaeologists today unveiled a newly-unearthed double tomb of a father and son.



The tomb includes two false doors with colourful paintings depicting the two men who served as heads of the royal scribes and were in charge of part of the construction of the Egyptian pyramids.

Decorated with vivid wall paintings, the two tombs were found in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo.

Abdel-Hakim Karar, a top archaeologist at Saqqara said i t could be the start for uncovering a vast cemetery in the area.

'The colours of the false door are fresh as if it was painted yesterday,' Karar said.

View of one of two rock-hewn painted Old Kingdom tombs recently discovered at Saqqara necropolis

Humidity had destroyed the sarcophagus of the father, Shendwas, while the tomb of the son, Khonsu, was robbed in antiquity, he said.

Also inscribed on the father's false door was the name of Pepi II, whose 90-year reign is believed to be the longest of the pharaohs.

The inscription dates the double tomb to the 6th dynasty, which marked the beginning of the decline of the Old Kingdom, also known as the age of pyramids.

Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), walks in front of one of the two rock-hewn painted Old Kingdom tombs recently discovered 20 metres below ground level A collection of some of the objects inside the tombs at Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo

Egypt's antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, said the new finds were 'the most distinguished tombs ever found from the Old Kingdom,' because of their 'amazing colours.'

He said the area, if excavated, could unveil the largest cemetery of ancient Egypt.

The paintings on the false doors identified Shendwas and Khonsu as royal scribes and 'supervisors of the mission,' meaning they were in charge of delegations overseeing the supply of materials used for pyramids construction.

A single shaft from the surface led down to the father's tomb, from which a side passage led to that of the son, with the false door with paintings of Khonsu in front of an offering table.

Hawass pointed to a handful of duck-shaped artifacts and a small obelisk made of limestone.



Such obelisks were often buried with the dead in the 5th and 6th dynasties to show their veneration for the sun god, Ra.

With the Step Pyramid of King Djoser in the background, an Egyptian labourer works at the site of the unearthed 4,300 year old tombs

'These artifacts were found at the end of the burial shaft, at 18 yards depth, but we covered it up,' Hawass said.

Karar said that so far six tombs dating back to the end of the Old Kingdom have been unearthed since digging in the area three began three years ago. Work started on the double tomb five weeks ago.