A joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission has discovered a late Fifth Dynasty tomb belonging to a senior judge and his father in the Saqqara necropolis, shedding light on the administrative roles of state officials during the period.
The tomb, dating back to the reign of King Djedkare Isesi, was uncovered during the 2026 excavation season in an area known as the “Mariette Cemetery” north of Saqqara.
The structure consists of a medium-sized mastaba with two funerary chapels that open on its eastern wall, according to Dr. Josep Cervelló Autuori, head of the mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
The primary northern chapel belongs to “Yunmin,” an official who served as a judge, court director, and head of the scribes responsible for reviewing petitions and complaints. Autuori stated that Yunmin’s chapel features an architectural facade bearing funerary texts, offering formulas, and an official depiction of the tomb owner. The walls are decorated with prominent reliefs showing agricultural activities and offering processions, many of which retain their original colours.
The southern chapel belongs to Yunmin’s father, “Ity,” who held clerical positions related to agricultural land administration and offerings. This section includes a false door and coloured murals depicting offering scenes, though a large portion of these decorations has been lost, Autuori added.
Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that while the location of the mastaba had been known since the 19th-century excavations of French archaeologist Auguste Mariette, it had not previously undergone comprehensive scientific excavation and documentation.
El-Leithy stated the discovery provides new archaeological data regarding the Saqqara necropolis during the late Fifth Dynasty and offers insight into the architectural and artistic styles of the era’s tombs.
The excavation was conducted as part of a joint scientific project between the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Amr El-Tibi, Director General of the Saqqara Antiquities Area, confirmed that the mission has completed its excavations and the scientific documentation of both chapels. The team has also implemented a comprehensive conservation and restoration programme to preserve the newly discovered architectural and decorative elements.
