Tomb dating back 4,400 years with preserved colors found in Saqqara

A Spanish-Egyptian expedition from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt has discovered a mastaba from the end of the 5th dynasty in the Marietta necropolis. This is the tomb of an official named Yunmin and his father Iti: two memorial chapels are located along the eastern wall, with the larger northern chapel belonging to the son and the southern one to the father.

Wall reliefs depicting agricultural scenes and processions with offerings have been preserved, and some of the original paint remains. The findings will be presented at the eighth Ibero-American Congress of Egyptology.

The tomb dates back to the reign of Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi. Yunmin served as a judge, head of the court, and chief scribe for complaints, while his father Iti was a scribe responsible for lands and offerings. Archaeologists believe the double tomb reflects the son's social ascent: a provincial official rose to high rank and brought his father with him into the afterlife.

The site was known since the time of Auguste Mariette in the 19th century, but had been almost untouched by scientific excavation. In Yunmin’s chapel, researchers found a carved facade with funerary texts, and in Iti’s—a false door. His paintings are less well preserved. The reliefs also include everyday details such as donkeys and other animals.