Ancient Tomb of Fifth Dynasty Prince Discovered at Saqqara!
A team of Egyptian archaeologists has made an extraordinary discovery at the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo. The tomb of Prince Waser-If-Re, son of King Userkaf, the founder of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. This remarkable find offers a rare insight into royal life some 4,000 years ago.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
The excavation, led by renowned Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass alongside the Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Zahi Hawass Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage, initially confirmed that the tomb dated back to the Old Kingdom. However, further digging revealed it had later been reused during Egypt’s 26th Dynasty.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
One of the most striking features unearthed is a massive pink granite false door, standing an impressive 4.5 metres tall and 1.15 metres wide — a unique find in Egypt in both size and material. The hieroglyphs carved into it list Prince Waser-If-Re’s prestigious titles: “Hereditary Prince,” “Royal Scribe,” “Vizier,” “Judge,” “Governor of Buto and Nekheb,” and “Chanting Priest.”
The tomb also features a second entrance carved into its eastern face, bearing the prince’s name along with the cartouche of King Neferirkare, another ruler from the Fifth Dynasty. The discovery of this entrance, along with statues from later periods, confirms the tomb’s reuse centuries after its original construction.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Among the most dramatic finds are thirteen pink granite statues, each seated on high-backed chairs. Archaeologists believe some of these figures could represent the prince’s wives, although some statues were found without heads. Nearby, the team also uncovered an overturned black granite statue standing 1.35 metres tall, and a red granite offering table inscribed with ritualistic items.
Another significant find was a black granite statue, 1.17 metres high, discovered in one of the tomb’s chambers. This statue bears inscriptions of its owner’s name and titles and dates back to the 26th Dynasty, further supporting the theory that the tomb saw use during later periods of Egyptian history.
Excavations at the site are ongoing, and archaeologists are optimistic that more chambers and artefacts will be revealed. They hope that continued work will shed light on the tomb’s later occupants and the mystery of why royal statues were relocated into the burial chambers.