Archaeologists have uncovered two new tombs in the Saqqara necropolis. Nevine El-Aref joined the excavating team Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni has announced the discovery of two of the most important tombs ever found at Saqqara. The tombs dating from the Old Kingdom, which are in a part of the necropolis to the west of Djoser's Step Pyramid known as Gisr Al-Mudir, were discovered during routine excavations by an Egyptian mission that has been working in the area since 1968. Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) and the team leader, says early studies have revealed that the tombs belonged to a man named Shendwa and his son, Khonsu. The upper part of the father's tomb consists of a painted false door depicting scenes of the deceased seated before an offering table. The door also bears the various titles of office of the tomb's owner, an important governmental official during the Fifth Dynasty (2465- 2323 BC). He was head of the royal scribes and supervisor of missions, as well as bearing other honorary titles. The tomb's burial shaft is located directly beneath the false door, 20 metres below ground level. "When I descended into the tomb I realised that it was intact and had not previously been plundered by tomb robbers," Hawass told Al-Ahram Weekly. He pointed out that unfortunately Shendwa's wooden sarcophagus had disintegrated owing to humidity and erosion. Beside the sarcophagus was a collection of limestone jars including five offering vessels carved in the shape of a duck. When the vessels were opened the bones of the ducks were found still intact. Abdel-Hakim Karar, co-director of the excavation mission, said that inside the burial shaft were a painted relief and a 30cm tall obelisk made of limestone. "This obelisk is a symbol of worship of the sun god Re," Karar said, adding that the ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom used to erect small obelisks in front of their tombs and inside temples related to the tombs of the queens' pyramids. Next to Shendwa's tomb the archaeologists discovered that of his son, Khonsu. This is a beautifully painted tomb with a false door bearing Khonsu's various titles, indicating that Khonsu apparently inherited the same titles as his father. Just opposite the false door the team located an offering table, together with a stone lintel on the floor. Hawass said the lintel was engraved with symbols that dated it to the Sixth Dynasty. Over the false door was a small lintel in coloured relief depicting the deceased in various poses.
