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Nevine al-Aref – Ahram Online
“An archaeological mission from Cairo University uncovered the tomb of Ptah-M-Wia, head of the treasury during the reign of King Ramses II, at excavations at the Saqqara necropolis”, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced on Saturday.
Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said “it is an important discovery, due to the several titles the tomb owner acquired in life. He was the royal scribe, the head of the treasury, the supervisors of cattle breeding and was responsible for sacrifices to the deities at Ramses II temple in Thebes”.
Waziri noted that the area where the new discovery was made includes the tombs of senior officials of the New Kingdom and the renowned military commander Haremhab.
“The tomb’s architecture is similar to its neighbours; in a style is known as a tomb-temple. It consists of an entrance in the form of an edifice, followed by one or more courtyards. The tomb ends at the Western side with a shrine for deities headed by a pyramidion”, according to the head of the archaeological mission, Ola al-Egeazy.
“The entrance to the tomb is the only uncovered part, which is carved in stone engraved with scenes depicting the tomb’s owner”, she added. The entrance leads to a first hall with painted walls showing scenes of the offering processions. Many stone blocks were found under the sand including several Osirian columns.
Ahmed Ragab, dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, said; “excavation works in Saqqara began in the 1970s at the New Kingdom cemetery. It is found South of the road leading to the pyramid of King Unas. The university’s current mission, headed by Ola al-Egazy, began in 2005.
Other important discoveries made by the mission include the tomb of the mayor of Memphis, Ptah-Mas; the royal ambassador to foreign countries, Basir; and the supreme commander of the army, Eurkhi.
