A group of researchers recently discovered the tomb of an unknown Egyptian queen at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara, together with a brand-new cache of 300 coffins, more than 100 mummies, and other artifacts.
Tut’s generals and advisers’ remains are most likely found in the most recent stash of mummies. The pyramid that scientists now think was built in honor of an ancient queen who is being identified for the first time is even more intriguing.
“We have since discovered that her name was Neith, and she had never before been known from the historical record,” Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, the nation’s former minister of antiquities, told Live Science. “It is amazing to literally rewrite what we know of history, adding a new queen to our records.”
Another discovery made during excavations was a network of 22 interconnecting tunnels. Hawass argues that these burials, which date between 1570 B.C.E. and 1069 B.C.E., are New Kingdom burials, as opposed to prior findings at Saqqara, the majority of which are Old Kingdom or Late Period artifacts.
“Burials from the New Kingdom were not known to be common in the area before, so this is entirely unique to the site,” Hawass added. “The coffins have individual faces, each one unique, distinguishing between men and women, and are decorated with scenes from the Book of the Dead. Each coffin also has the name of the deceased and often shows the Four Sons of Horus, who protected the organs of the deceased.”
The dig at Saqqara has been underway since 2020, providing a variety of new findings. The most recent finds include a woman’s mummy with a solid gold mask, Senet game pieces, a huge limestone coffin, and a soldier who was buried holding a metal axe.
Some of these relics will be on show at the country’s upcoming Grand Egyptian Museum when it finally opens in Giza the following year.
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