Archaeologists Uncover Royal Tomb of Egyptian Prince Behind Massive False Door
Archaeologists in Egypt have unearthed the tomb of a royal prince, “Userefre” or “Waser Ef Ra,” behind a massive false door at the Saqqara archaeological site, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The discovery, announced in a recent Facebook post, marks the first time a door of this type has been found, revealing hieroglyphic inscriptions detailing the prince’s titles and a wealth of artifacts, including statues of pharaohs and funerary offerings.
The tomb, dating back to the Fifth Dynasty, belonged to the son of King Userkaf, the founder of that dynasty. The false door, made of pink granite and measuring 14 feet high and 3.7 feet wide, was described as a significant find, with officials emphasizing its uniqueness. Inside, the tomb contained a number of remarkable artifacts, including statues of King Djoser, his wife, and his 10 daughters, as well as a red granite table with a list of funerary offerings.
In addition to the main tomb, archaeologists discovered a large black granite statue, another tomb entrance made of pink granite, and a group of 13 pink granite statues seated on a high-backed bench, described as the first of its kind in the Saqqara area. The Facebook post, translated from Arabic, noted the presence of statue heads representing the wives of the tomb owner, with two headless statues to their left and a black granite statue standing in front.
Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy expressed his happiness over the discovery, stating that it helps “unveil new secrets of this significant historical period in the history of ancient Egyptian civilization.” The find adds to a series of major archaeological discoveries in Egypt, including the recent uncovering of a 3,000-year-old mining complex and the tomb of an unknown Egyptian pharaoh. These findings continue to shed light on the country’s rich and complex past, deepening our understanding of ancient Egyptian society and its monumental achievements.