saqqara

{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}

File:Saqqara map.jpg

File:Egypt.Saqqara.Panorama.01.jpg's step pyramid (centre), the Pyramid of Unas (left) and the Pyramid of Userkaf (right)]]

File:Oralfixation.jpg

{{nowrap|The earliest burials}} of nobles can be traced back to the First Dynasty, at the northern side of the Saqqara plateau. During this time, the royal burial ground was at Abydos. The first royal burials at Saqqara, comprising underground galleries, date to the early Second Dynasty reigns of Hotepsekhemwy, Raneb and Nynetjer. This is followed by a hiatus, with Seth-Peribsen and Khasekhemwy, the last Second Dynasty king, both buried in Abydos. Khasekhemwy may nonetheless also have built a funerary monument at Saqqara consisting of a large rectangular enclosure, known as Gisr el-Mudir, although this enclosure could also belong to Nynetjer. It probably inspired the monumental enclosure wall around the Step Pyramid complex. Djoser's funerary complex, built by the royal architect Imhotep, further comprises a large number of dummy buildings and a secondary mastaba (the so-called 'Southern Tomb'). French architect and Egyptologist Jean-Philippe Lauer spent the greater part of his life excavating and restoring Djoser's funerary complex.

• Tomb of king Hotepsekhemwy and Raneb
• Tomb of king Nynetjer
• Buried Pyramid, funerary complex of king Sekhemkhet
• Gisr el-Mudir, funerary complex of a Second Dynasty king, possibly Nynetjer or Khasekhemwy
• Step Pyramid, funerary complex of king Djoser

File:Saqqara BW 1.jpg

File:Ägyptisches Museum Kairo 2016-03-29 Ka-aper 01.jpg, 4th or 5th dynasty of the Old Kingdom, from Saqqara, c. 2500 BC]]

Nearly all Fourth Dynasty kings chose a different location for their pyramids. During the second half of the Old Kingdom, under the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties, Saqqara was again the royal burial ground. The Fifth and Sixth Dynasty pyramids are not built wholly of massive stone blocks, but instead with a core consisting of rubble. Consequently, they are less well preserved than the world-famous pyramids built by the Fourth Dynasty kings at Giza. Unas, the last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty, was the first king to adorn the chambers in his pyramid with Pyramid Texts. During the Old Kingdom, it was customary for courtiers to be buried in mastaba tombs close to the pyramid of their king. Thus, clusters of private tombs were formed in Saqqara around the pyramid complexes of Unas and Teti.

• Pyramid of Djoser (Dynasty Three)
• Mastabat al-Fir'aun, tomb of king Shepseskaf (Dynasty Four)
• Pyramid of Userkaf of the Fifth Dynasty
• Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi
• Pyramid of king Menkauhor
• Mastaba of Ti
• Mastaba of Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum
• Pyramid of Unas
• Mastaba of Ptahhotep
• Pyramid of Teti (Dynasty Six)
• Mastaba of Mereruka
• Mastaba of Kagemni
• Mastaba of Akhethetep
• Pyramid of Pepi I
• Pyramid of Merenre
• Pyramid complex of king Pepi II Neferkare
• Tomb of Perneb (now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York)

• Pyramid of king Ibi (Dynasty Eight)

From the Middle Kingdom onward, Memphis was no longer the capital of the country, and kings built their funerary complexes elsewhere. Few private monuments from this period have been found at Saqqara.

• Pyramid of king Khendjer (Dynasty Thirteen)
• Pyramid of an unknown king

File:S10.08 Sakkara, image 9639.jpg, passage with recesses that house sarcophagi for the bulls]]

During the New Kingdom, Memphis was an important administrative and military centre, being the capital after the Amarna Period. From the Eighteenth Dynasty onward, many high officials built tombs at Saqqara. While still a general, Horemheb built a large tomb here, although he later was buried as pharaoh in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes. Other important tombs belong to the vizier Aperel, the vizier Neferronpet, the artist Thutmose, the priest Bakenhori and the wet-nurse of Tutankhamun, Maia.

Many monuments from earlier periods were still standing, but dilapidated by this period. Prince Khaemweset, son of Pharaoh Ramesses II, made repairs to buildings at Saqqara. Among other things, he restored the Pyramid of Unas and added an inscription to its south face to commemorate the restoration. He enlarged the Serapeum, the burial site of the mummified Apis bulls, and was later buried in the catacombs. The Serapeum, containing one undisturbed interment of an Apis bull and the tomb of Khaemweset, were rediscovered by the French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette in 1851.

• Several clusters of tombs of high officials, among which the tombs of Horemheb and of Maya and Merit. Reliefs and statues from these two tombs are on display in the National Museum of Antiquities at Leiden, the Netherlands, and in the British Museum, London.

During the periods after the New Kingdom, when several cities in the Delta served as capital of Egypt, Saqqara remained in use as a burial ground for nobles. Moreover, the area became an important destination for pilgrims to a number of cult centres. Activities sprang up around the Serapeum, and extensive underground galleries were cut into the rock as burial sites for large numbers of mummified ibises, baboons, cats, dogs, and falcons.

• Several shaft tombs of officials of the Late Period
• Serapeum (the larger part dating to the Ptolemaic Period)
• The so-called 'Philosophers circle', a monument to important Greek thinkers and poets, consisting of statues of Hesiod, Homer, Pindar, Plato, and others (Ptolemaic)
• Several Coptic monasteries, among which the Monastery of Apa Jeremiah (Byzantine and Early Islamic Periods)

Saqqara and the surrounding areas of Abusir and Dahshur suffered damage by looters during the 2011 Egyptian protests. Store rooms were broken into, but the monuments were mostly unharmed.{{cite web |date=August 2021 |title=Egyptological Looting Database 2011 |url=http://egyptopaedia.com/2011/pyramid-fields/saqqar |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-02-03 |archive-date=2012-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319185909/http://egyptopaedia.com/2011/pyramid-fields/saqqar }}{{cite web |title=Saqqara.nl |url=http://www.saqqara.nl/news/old-news-about-the-saqqara-situation }}{{dead link|date=September 2023}}

During routine excavations in 2011 at the dog catacomb in Saqqara necropolis, an excavation team led by Salima Ikram and an international team of researchers led by Paul Nicholson of Cardiff University uncovered almost eight million animal mummies at the burial site next to the sacred temple of Anubis.{{Cite news |date=2015-07-04 |title=Millions Of Mummified Dogs Found In Ancient Egyptian Catacombs |language=en |website=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/07/04/418079713/millions-of-mummified-dogs-found-in-ancient-egyptian-catacombs |access-date=2020-06-28}}{{Cite web |last=Geggel |first=Laura |date=18 June 2015 |title=8 Million Dog Mummies Found in 'God of Death' Mass Grave |url=https://www.livescience.com/51232-millions-of-dog-mummies-found.html |access-date=2020-06-28 |website=LiveScience |language=en}} It is thought that the mummified animals, mostly dogs, were intended to pass on the prayers of their owners to their deities.{{Cite web |last=El-Aref |first=Nevine |date=2 January 2013 |title=Eight million dog mummies found in Saqqara |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/61381/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Eight-million-dog-mummies-found-in-Saqqara.aspx |access-date=2020-09-20 |website=Ahram Online |language=en}}

In July 2018, German-Egyptian researchers’ team head by Ramadan Badry Hussein of the University of Tübingen reported the discovery of an extremely rare gilded burial mask that probably dates from the Saite-Persian period in a partly damaged wooden coffin. The last time a similar mask was found was in 1939.{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michelle |date=2018-07-16 |title=Archaeologists Have Uncovered a Place Where The Ancient Egyptians Mummifed Their Dead |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/saqqara-egypt-necropolis-mummification-workshop-silver-funerary-mask |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=ScienceAlert |language=en-US}} The eyes were covered with obsidian, calcite, and black hued gemstone possibly onyx. "The finding of this mask could be called a sensation. Very few masks of precious metal have been preserved to the present day, because the tombs of most Ancient Egyptian dignitaries were looted in ancient times." said Hussein.{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Markus |date=2018-07-16 |title=Researchers discover gilded mummy mask |url=https://www.heritagedaily.com/2018/07/researchers-discover-gilded-mummy-mask/120943 |access-date=2020-05-10 |website=HeritageDaily |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Mandal |first1=Dattatreya |date=2018-07-16 |title=The Mummy With The Silver Gilded Mask – Discovered In Saqqara, Egypt |url=https://www.realmofhistory.com/2018/07/16/mummy-silver-gilded-mask-saqqara-egypt/ |access-date=2020-05-10 |website=Realm of History |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930162117/https://www.realmofhistory.com/2018/07/16/mummy-silver-gilded-mask-saqqara-egypt/ |url-status=dead }}

In September 2018, several dozen cache of mummies dating 2,000 years back were found by a team of Polish archaeologists led by Kamil Kuraszkiewicz from the Faculty of Oriental Studies of the University of Warsaw.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 June 2019 |title=Polish archeologists uncover Egyptian mummies |url=https://tvpworld.com/43249026/polish-archeologists-uncover-egyptian-mummies |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=TVP World |language=en}} The Polish-Egyptian expedition works under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology University of Warsaw.{{Cite web |title=Saqqara |url=https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/en/2019/02/03/saqqara/ |access-date=2020-08-18 |website=Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology}} Investigations were carried out for over two decades in the area to the west of the Djoser Pyramid. The most important discoveries include the tomb of vizier Merefnebef with a funerary chapel decorated with multi-colored reliefs, which was uncovered in 1997.{{Cite book|last1=Myśliwiec|first1=K.|title=Saqqara I. The Tomb of Merefnebef.|last2=Kuraszkiewicz|first2=K. O.|last3=Czerwik|first3=D.|last4=Rzeuska|first4=T.|last5=Kaczmarek|first5=M.|last6=Kowalska|first6=A.|last7=Radomska|first7=M.|last8=Godziejewski|first8=Z.|publisher=Zaś Pan, PCMA UW, Neriton|year=2004|location=Varsovie}} as well as the tomb of courtier Nyankhnefertem uncovered in 2003.{{Cite book|last1=Myśliwiec|first1=K.|title=Saqqara IV. The Funerary Complex of Nyankhnefertem.|last2=Kuraszkiewicz|first2=K.|publisher=Zaś Pan, PCMA UW, Neriton|year=2010|location=Varsovie}} The expedition also explored two necropoles. Archaeologists revealed several dozen graves of noblemen from the period of the 6th Dynasty, dating to the 24th–21st century BC, and 500 graves of indigent people dating approximately to the 6th century BC – 1st century AD. Most of the bodies were poorly preserved and all organic materials, including the wooden caskets, had decayed.{{Cite web |last=Zdzieblowski |first=Szymon |date=1 July 2019 |title=Dozens of mummies discovered by Polish archaeologists next to the world's oldest pyramid |url=http://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C77724%2Cdozens-mummies-discovered-polish-archaeologists-next-worlds-oldest-pyramid.html |access-date=2019-09-23 |website=Science in Poland |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chatham |first=Anne |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Dozens of mummies dating back 2,000 years found next to world's oldest pyramid |url=https://www.thefirstnews.com/article/dozens-of-mummies-dating-back-2000-years-found-next-to-worlds-oldest-pyramid-6545 |access-date=2019-09-23 |website=The First News |language=en}} The tombs discovered most recently (in 2018) form part of the younger, so-called Upper Necropolis.{{Cite web|last=Kuraszkiewicz|first=K. O.|date=2018|title=2018 Campaign|url=http://saqqara.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2019/06/PEAMS-2018.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224102554/http://saqqara.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2019/06/PEAMS-2018.pdf |archive-date=2020-12-24 |url-status=live|website=Polish-Egyptian Archaeological Mission Saqqara}}

{{Blockquote|text=Most of the mummies we discovered last season were very modest, they were only subjected to basic embalming treatments, wrapped in bandages and placed directly in pits dug in the sand|sign=Kamil Kuraszkiewicz.|source=|title=}}

The research of the Polish-Egyptian expedition also focuses on the interpretation of the so-called Dry Moat, a vast trench hewn around the Djoser Pyramid. The most recent discoveries confirm the hypothesis that the Dry Moat was a model of the pharaoh's journey to the netherworld, a road the deceased ruler had to follow to attain eternal life.{{Cite web|last=Szulc-Kajak|first=Agnieszka|date=2019|title=Sakkara – nowe odkrycia, nowe interpretacje|url=https://pcma.uw.edu.pl/2019/10/25/sakkara-nowe-odkrycia-nowe-interpretacje/|website=PCMA UW}}{{Cite web|last=Zdziebłowski|first=Szymon|title=Egyptologist: The trench surrounding the oldest pyramid of Egypt was a model of the way to the afterlife|url=https://scienceinpoland.pap.pl/en/news/news%2C77690%2Cegyptologist-trench-surrounding-oldest-pyramid-egypt-was-model-way-afterlife.html|access-date=2020-08-18|website=Science in Poland|language=en}}

In November 2018, an Egyptian archaeological mission located seven ancient Egyptian tombs at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara. Three of the tombs were used for cats, some dating back to the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties,{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/11/middleeast/egypt-tombs-cat-mummies-scarab-beetles/index.html | title=Dozens of cat mummies, rare beetles discovered in Egyptian tombs | website=CNN | date=11 November 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-archaeology-discovery/ancient-egyptian-tombs-yield-rare-find-of-mummified-scarab-beetles-idUSKCN1NF0KY|title=Ancient Egyptian tombs yield rare find of mummified scarab beetles|work=Reuters|date=11 November 2018}} while one of four other sarcophagi was unsealed. Among the dozens of cat mummies were 100 wooden and gilded statues of cats and one in bronze dedicated to the cat goddess Bastet, and funerary items dating back to the 12th Dynasty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/11/12/mummified-cats-found/|title=Dozens of Mummified Cats Found in 6,000-yr-old Egyptian Tombs|date=2018-11-12|website=The Vintage News|language=en|access-date=2019-09-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/nov/11/dozens-of-cat-mummies-found-in-6000-year-old-tombs-in-egypt|title=Dozens of cat mummies found in 6,000-year-old tombs in Egypt|website=The Guardian|date=11 November 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.brecorder.com/2018/11/12/452010/dozens-of-mummified-cats-beetles-unearthed-in-6000-year-old-egyptian-tombs/|title=Dozens of mummified cats, beetles unearthed in 6,000-year-old Egyptian tombs|date=2018-11-12|website=Business Recorder|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-19}} Another of the seven tombs belongs to Khufu-Imhat, the overseer of buildings in the royal palace.

Also in November 2018, a collection of rare mummified scarab beetles was unearthed in two sarcophagi, one of which was decorated with paintings of large black beetles.

Also in November 2018, the Egyptian government announced the discovery at Saqqara of a previously unknown 4,400-year-old tomb. It belongs to Wahtye, a high-ranking priest{{cite web |url= https://www.livescience.com/64317-saqqara-tomb-hidden-shafts-discovered.html |title= 4,400-Year-Old Tomb of 'Divine Inspector' with Hidden Shafts Discovered in Egypt |author= Owen Jarus |date= December 15, 2018 |work= Live Science |access-date= December 15, 2018 |quote= Wahtye was a high-ranking priest who carried the title of divine inspector, said Mostafa Waziri, the general secretary of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities who led the Egyptian team that discovered the tomb... }} who served under King Neferirkare Kakai during the Fifth Dynasty, and his wife, four children and mother.Brice-Saddler, Michael, "[https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2018/12/16/look-inside-one-kind-year-old-tomb-discovered-egypt/?wpisrc=nl_evening&wpmm=1 Look inside a ‘one of a kind,' 4,400-year-old tomb discovered in Egypt]", The Washington Post, December 16, 2018.Williams, A. R. (December 17, 2018). "Untouched 4,400-year-old tomb discovered at Saqqara, Egypt". National Geographic. Retrieved December 17, 2018."Egypt tomb: Saqqara 'one of a kind' discovery revealed". BBC News. December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.Daragahi, Borzou (December 17, 2018). "Untouched 'one-of-a-kind' ancient tomb belonging to 'divine inspector' uncovered in Egypt". The Independent. Retrieved December 17, 2018. The tomb is about {{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long by {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} wide and has five burial shafts and a basement.{{cite web| url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-saqqara-tomb/index.html| title=4,400-year-old tomb discovered in Egypt | website=CNN| date=16 December 2018 }} It contains more than fifty sculptures, and is painted with scenes of the family, wine and pottery making, musical performances, sailing, hunting, and furniture making.

On 13 April 2019, an expedition led by a member of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Mohamed Megahed, discovered a 4,000-year-old tomb near Egypt's Saqqara Necropolis. Archaeologists confirmed that the tomb belonged to an influential person named Khuwy, who lived in Egypt during the 5th Dynasty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geek.com/news/newly-discovered-4000-year-old-egyptian-tomb-stuns-archaeologists-1783165/|title=Newly Discovered 4,000-Year Old Egyptian Tomb Stuns Archaeologists|date=2019-04-15|website=Geek.com|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-23|archive-date=2020-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224101538/https://www.pcmag.com/news|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-paintings-color-scli-intl/index.html|title=Colorful tomb puzzles Egypt archaeologists|first=Jack |last=Guy|date=2019-04-15|website=CNN Travel|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/science/egyptian-dignitary-colorful-tomb-discovery|title=Discovery of Egyptian dignitary's 4,000-year-old colorful tomb stuns archaeologists|last=Earl|first=Jennifer|date=2019-04-15|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/egypt-vivid-4-300-year-old-tomb-belonging-to-fifth-dynasty-senior-official-unveiled-11694402|title=Egypt: Vivid 4,300-year-old tomb belonging to Fifth Dynasty senior official unveiled|website=Sky News|language=en|access-date=2019-04-23}} "The L-shaped Khuwy tomb starts with a small corridor heading downwards into an antechamber and from there a larger chamber with painted reliefs depicting the tomb owner seated at an offerings table", reported Megahed. Some paintings maintained their brightness over a long time in the tomb. Mainly made of white limestone bricks, the tomb had a tunnel entrance generally typical for pyramids. Archaeologists say that there might be a connection between Khuwy and pharaoh because the mausoleum was found near the pyramid of Egyptian Pharaoh Djedkare Isesi, who ruled during that time.

In October 2019, a cache of 30 coffins with mummies was discovered, at the time Egypt's largest in more than a century and the first cache to be discovered by a solely Egyptian mission.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/19/middleeast/egypt-discovers-coffins-mummies-trnd/index.html | title=Egypt unveils discovery of 30 ancient coffins with mummies inside | website=CNN | date=20 October 2019 }} The coffins were stacked on top of each other and arranged in two rows about three feet below the sandy surface. The first coffin's head was partially exposed in the sand, which led to the cache's discovery. Two of the coffins belonged to children, a rare occurrence in archeology. Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, explained that one could identify the mummy's gender by the shape of the hands on the coffin, open hands being female and hands balled into fists being male. The colors of the coffin inscriptions---made from limestone, red oak, turquoise, and other natural stones mixed with eggwhites—stayed intact, and the mixture of egg yolk and candle wax spread over the coffins to make them shine was still visible, making this a unique find.

On April 28, 2020, archeologists announced they had found a 30-foot-deep (9 meter) burial shaft containing five limestone sarcophagi, four wooden coffins with human mummies, and an array of other artifacts. Among them were 365 faience ushabti and a small wooden obelisk about 40 centimeters tall that had been painted with depictions of Horus, Isis and Nepthys.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/ancient-egypt-discoveries-saqqara/index.html | title=Mummies discovered in burial shaft in Egypt | website=CNN | date=28 April 2020 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2554142418186206|title=تفاصيل الكشف الذي تم الإعلان عنه أمس ضمن الاحتفالات بيوم التراث العالمي: | تفاصيل الكشف الذي تم الإعلان عنه أمس ضمن احتفالات بيوم التراث العالمي Details of the new discovery announced yesterday online within the celebration of... | By Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities وزارة السياحة والآثار‎ | Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}

In September 2020, a {{convert|36|ft|m|adj=on|abbr=off|sp=us}} deep burial shaft revealed almost 30 sarcophagi that had remained completely sealed since their interment.{{cite web| url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/egypt-sarcophagi-discovery-intl-hnk-scli/index.html| title=Egyptian tomb in Saqqara necropolis found to contain huge cache of sealed sarcophagi | website=CNN| date=21 September 2020 }}

On 3 October 2020, Khalid el-Anany, Egypt's tourism and antiquities minister announced the discovery of at least 59 sealed sarcophagi with mummies more than 2,600 years old. Archaeologists also revealed the 20 statues of Ptah-Soker and a carved 35-centimeter tall bronze statue of god Nefertem.{{Cite web|last=Magdy|first=Samy|title=Egypt reveals 59 ancient coffins found near Saqqara pyramids, many of which hold mummies|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/2020/10/03/archeologists-unearthed-59-sealed-sarcophagi-egypt/3610284001/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-06|title=59 sealed sarcophagi and mummies discovered in Egypt|url=https://www.slashgear.com/59-sealed-sarcophagi-and-mummies-discovered-in-egypt-06641162/|access-date=2020-10-20|website=SlashGear|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-03|title=Egyptian archaeologists unveil discovery of 59 sealed sarcophagi|url=https://arab.news/z64ny|access-date=2020-10-20|website=Arab News|language=en}}

On 19 October 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of gilded, wooden statues and more than 80 coffins in three burial shafts.{{Cite news|title=Egypt says another trove of ancient coffins found in Saqqara|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-trove-ancient-coffins-found-saqqara-73694700|access-date=2020-10-20|website=ABC News}}{{Cite news|last=Oct 19|agency=Associated Press |title=Egypt says another trove of ancient coffins found in Saqqara |newspaper=Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/egypt-says-another-trove-of-ancient-coffins-found-in-saqqara/articleshow/78752008.cms|access-date=2020-10-20}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/style/article/saqqara-sarcophagi-egypt/index.html | title=Archaeologists unearth 'huge number' of sealed Egyptian sarcophagi | website=CNN | date=20 October 2020 }} Officials believed the coffins contain senior officials and priests from the 26th Dynasty.

In November 2020, archaeologists unearthed more than 100 delicately painted wooden coffins dating to the 26th Dynasty and 40 statues of the local goddess Ptah Soker. Other artifacts discovered include funeral masks, canopic jars and 1,000 ceramic amulets.{{Cite news|last=Kwai|first=Isabella|date=2020-11-15|title=Egypt Unearths New Mummies Dating Back 2,500 Years|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/15/world/middleeast/egypt-discovery-mummies.html|access-date=2020-11-16|issn=0362-4331}} “This discovery is very important because it proves that Saqqara was the main burial of the 26th Dynasty,” said Zahi Hawass, an Egyptologist and Egypt's former Minister of State for Antiquities Affairs.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-14|title=Egypt announces huge discovery of 100 human sealed coffins,40 impressive statues|url=https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/94209/Egypt-announces-huge-discovery-of-100-human-sealed-coffins-40|access-date=2021-01-20|website=EgyptToday}}{{Cite web|last=Cairo|first=Associated Press in|date=2020-11-14|title=Nearly 100 coffins buried over 2,500 years ago found in Egypt|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/14/nearly-100-coffins-buried-over-2500-years-ago-found-in-egypt|access-date=2021-01-20|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

In January 2021, the tourism and antiquities ministry announced the discovery of more than 50 wooden sarcophagi in 52 burial shafts which date back to the New Kingdom period,{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-saqqara-coffins-intl-scli/index.html | title=Ancient coffins, burial sites and a funeral temple discovered in Saqqara necropolis will 'rewrite history' | website=CNN | date=17 January 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/398931.aspx | title=In Photos: Egyptian archaeological mission at Saqqara Necropolis announces new major discoveries - Ancient Egypt - Antiquities }} each around 30 to 40 feet deep, and a 13 ft-long papyrus that contains texts from Chapter 17 of the Book of the Dead. The papyrus scroll belonged to a man named Bu-Khaa-Af, whose name is written on it, on his sarcophagus, and on four ushabtis.{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Kiona N.|date=2021-01-25|title=Egyptian archaeologists unearth dozens of tombs at Saqqara necropolis|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/01/egyptian-archaeologists-unearth-dozens-of-tombs-at-saqqara-necropolis/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us}} Excerpts from the Book of the Dead were also painted onto the surface of other coffins. Also found in the shafts were wooden funerary masks, board games, a shrine dedicated to god of the dead Anubis, bird-shaped artifacts and a bronze axe. A limestone stelae dated to the reign of Ramesses II was found in one of the shafts, depicting the overseer of the king's military chariot Kha-Ptah and his wife Mwt-em-wia worshipping Osiris and sitting with six of their children.

Also in January 2021, a team of archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass found the funerary temple of Naert or Narat and three warehouses made of bricks attached to the southeastern side for storage of temple provisions, offerings and tools.{{Cite web|title=Queen's temple, 50 coffins, Book of Dead: Ancient Egypt trove 'remakes history' {{!}} The Times of Israel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/book-of-the-dead-texts-unearthed-in-ancient-egypt-necropolis/amp/|access-date=2021-01-20|website=www.timesofisrael.com}}{{Cite web|date=17 Jan 2021 |title=Egypt makes 'major discoveries' at Saqqara archaeological site {{!}} Malay Mail|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2021/01/17/egypt-makes-major-discoveries-at-saqqara-archaeological-site/1941192|access-date=2021-01-20|website=www.malaymail.com}}{{Cite web|title=4,200-year-old queen's identity among remarkable new finds in Egypt|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saqqara-tomb-egypt-4000-year-old-queen-neit-id-remarkable-archaeology-discoveries/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=19 January 2021 |language=en-US}}{{cite web | url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/398931.aspx | title=In Photos: Egyptian archaeological mission at Saqqara Necropolis announces new major discoveries - Ancient Egypt - Antiquities }} Researchers also revealed that Narat's name was engraved on a fallen obelisk near the main entrance. Previously unknown to researchers, Naert was a wife of Teti, the first king of the sixth dynasty.Davis-Marks, Isis, [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-unearth-50-more-sarcophagi-saqqara-necropolis-180976794/ Archaeologists Unearth Egyptian Queen’s Tomb, 13-Foot ‘Book of the Dead’ Scroll], Smithsonian, January 21, 2021

In November 2021, archeologists from Cairo University discovered several tombs, including that of Batah-M-Woya, chief treasurer during the reign of Ramesses II,{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-tomb-saqqara-scli-intl/index.html | title=Archaeologists in Egypt reveal tomb of Ramses II's chief treasurer | website=CNN | date=November 2021 }} and of a military leader named Hor Mohib.

In March 2022, five 4000-year-old tombs belonging to senior officials from the Old Kingdom and First Intermediary Period were discovered.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=Egypt discovers five 4,000-year-old ancient tombs |url=https://english.news.cn/africa/20220317/0a0565d6d05a4200bbe429fa23a63053/c.html |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=Xinhua News Agency}}{{Cite news |date=2022-03-20 |title=Archaeologists discover five tombs in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/archaeologists-discover-five-tombs-egypts-saqqara-necropolis-2022-03-19/ |access-date=2022-03-21}} On 30 May 2022, 250 sarcophagi and 150 statuettes were displayed at Saqqara, dated back to the Late Period more than 2,500 years ago, in addition to a 9-meter-long papyrus scroll which could be a depiction of a chapter of the Book of the Dead.{{cite web |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2022/05/30/egypt-unveils-major-find-of-250-sarcophagi-and-150-statues-in-saqqara/ |title=Egypt unveils major find of 250 sarcophagi and 150 statuettes in Saqqara |website=The National |date=30 May 2022 }}

In May 2022, the discovery of the nearly 4,300-year-old tomb of an ancient Egyptian high-ranked person who handled royal, sealed documents of pharaoh was announced. According to University of Warsaw’s Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, the elaborately decorated tomb belonged to a man named Mehtjetju who served as a priest and an inspector of the royal property. Kamil O. Kuraszkiewicz, expedition director stated that Mehtjetju most likely lived at about the same time, at some point during the reigns of the first three rulers of the Sixth Dynasty: Teti, Userkare and Pepy I.{{Cite web |last1=Magazine |first1=Smithsonian |last2=Kuta |first2=Sarah |title=Archaeologists in Egypt Unearth 4,300-Year-Old Tomb of Man Who Handled His Pharaoh's 'Secret Documents' |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-egypt-unearth-4300-year-old-tomb-of-egyptian-dignitary-who-handled-secret-documents-pharaoh-180980120/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}{{Cite web |author1=Owen Jarus |date=2022-05-16 |title=Tomb of ancient Egyptian dignitary who read top secret documents discovered |url=https://www.livescience.com/ancient-egyptian-tomb-royal-official |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=livescience.com |language=en}}

In January 2023, Zahi Hawass announced the discovery of four tombs at Saqqara including a 4,300-year-old mummy to a man named Hekashepes covered with gold, in addition to finds date back to the 5th and 6th dynasties, such as a priest inspector named Khnumdjedef, secret keeper called Meri and a judge and writer named Fetek.{{cite web |url=https://www.dw.com/en/egypt-unveils-4300-year-old-mummy-tombs/a-64530366 |title=Egypt unveils 4,300-year-old mummy, tombs |website=DW |date=26 January 2023 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/26/archaeologist-hails-possibly-oldest-mummy-yet-found-in-egypt |title=Archaeologist hails possibly oldest mummy yet found in Egypt |website=The Guardian |date=26 January 2023 }}

In April 2024, a rock-cut tomb dating back to the Second Dynasty was uncovered in Saqqara by a team of Japanese and Egyptian archaeologists. The tomb contained artifacts from various periods, spanning over the Late Period, the Ptolemaic period, and the 18th Dynasty. Among the findings were remains of an adult with a colored mask and a small child, in addition to two terracotta statues depicting Isis and Harpocrates.{{Cite web |last=Independent |first=Egypt |date=2024-01-04 |title=Photos: Egyptian-Japanese mission uncovers new rock tomb at Saqqara necropolis |url=https://cloudflare.egyptindependent.com/photos-egyptian-japanese-mission-uncovers-new-rock-tomb-at-saqqara-necropolis/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Egypt Independent |language=en-US}}

• Bubasteum
• List of Egyptian pyramids
• Saqqara Bird
• Saqqara Tablet
• Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb, 2020 documentary

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090703112911/http://www.ancient-egypt.org/topography/saqqara/index.html Information on Saqqara]
• [http://www.saqqara.nl Saqqara.nl (Friends of Saqqara Foundation)]
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6379431.stm Discoveries on the site from February 2007]
• [http://www.sas.upenn.edu/aamw/resources/fieldwork/#Saqqara%20%28Egypt%29 University of Pennsylvania Museum excavations at Saqqara]
• [http://www.historvius.com/saqqara-50/ Saqqara Information - Historvius]

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