Archaeology & History

4000-year-old Egyptian tomb discovered

By T.K. Randall
October 25, 2013

Image: Riding a Camel Across Egypt
Credit: Adelbayoumi / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) The tomb was found underneath a dense layer of rubble at the ruins of Abusir southwest of Cairo. The area is home to an extensive ancient necropolis and is believed to have once served as the main elite cemetery for the city of Memphis.

A number of relics were found inside the tomb including pottery, wooden coffins and skeletal remains. "This discovery is important because this is the tomb of one of the greatest doctors from the time of the pyramid builders, one of the doctors closely tied to the king," said Antiquities Minister Ibrahim Ali.The location of the find is particularly interesting because, being a family plot, it could also hold the remains of other individuals as well. The tombs of two other ancient Egyptian physicians had previously been uncovered at different times in the same area.

"The historical importance of the latest discoveries of our team rests particularly in that Schebseskaf Anch was one of the highest placed physicians known in the ancient Egypt of the period of pyramid builders, that is the Old Kingdom," said Egyptologist Miroslav Barta who headed the excavation team.

Source: Red Orbit

Tags: Egypt