A joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission has uncovered a tomb dating to the late Fifth Dynasty at the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt’s tourism and antiquities ministry said Monday.
The tomb, discovered during the mission’s 2026 excavation season in the area known as the Mariette Cemetery north of Saqqara, dates to the reign of King Djedkare Isesi, who ruled in the late 25th century BC.
The medium-sized mastaba contains two funerary chapels. The northern and main chapel belonged to a man named Yunmin, who held senior positions including judge, court director and chief of the scribes responsible for handling petitions and complaints.
The southern chapel belonged to Yunmin’s father, Iti, who held scribal posts linked to the administration of agricultural land and offerings.
The mission operates under a joint research project between the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.
“The discovery adds new archaeological information about the Saqqara necropolis during the late Fifth Dynasty,” said Hisham el-Leithy, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. It also sheds further light on the architecture and artistic design of tombs, as well as the administrative roles held by senior officials during the period, he added.
Leithy said the location of the mastaba had been known since the excavations of French archaeologist Auguste Mariette in the 19th century, but had never before undergone comprehensive, scientifically documented excavation.
The two chapels open onto the eastern wall of the mastaba, said Josep Cervello Autuori, head of the mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
Excavations in Yunmin’s chapel revealed a decorated architectural facade bearing funerary texts and an offering formula, as well as a formal depiction of the tomb’s owner.
The chapel walls feature finely executed reliefs depicting agricultural activities and processions carrying offerings to the tomb. Many of the scenes have retained their original colours, reflecting the high artistic standard of the period, the mission said.
Iti’s southern chapel contains a false door and coloured wall decoration showing offering scenes, although much of the decoration has been lost.
The mission has completed excavation and full scientific documentation of both chapels, as well as a comprehensive programme of conservation, restoration and preservation work, said Amr el-Tayebi, director general of the Saqqara archaeological area.
