The joint Spanish-Egyptian archaeological mission, working in the Saqqara antiquities area, uncovered a tomb dating to the late Fifth Dynasty, specifically the reign of King Djedkare Isesi, during the mission’s 2026 excavation season in the area known as “Mariette Cemetery” north of Saqqara.

The discovered tomb consists of a medium-sized platform containing two funerary chambers. One belongs to a person named Iunmin, who held several high positions, including judge, court director, and chief clerk responsible for reviewing petitions and complaints, while the second belongs to his father, Ity, who held clerical positions related to managing agricultural lands and offerings.

The mission is working within the framework of a joint scientific project between the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain and the Supreme Council of Antiquities, where it continues excavation work and archaeological research in the area located north of Saqqara.

Dr. Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stressed the importance of this discovery, as it adds new archaeological information about the Saqqara necropolis during the late Fifth Dynasty, and sheds more light on the nature of the tombs and their architectural and artistic styles, in addition to the administrative functions held by senior state officials during this period of ancient Egyptian history.

He added that the site of the mastaba had been known since the excavations of the French archaeologist Auguste Mariette in the 19th century, but it had never been subjected to archaeological excavation and documentation using an integrated scientific method, which gives special importance to the mission’s work and the new discovery.

Dr. Josep Serviu Autori, head of the mission from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, ​​explained that the tomb contains two funerary chambers that open onto the eastern wall of the mastaba, with the main chamber belonging to Yunmin located on the northern side.

Dr. Josep Serviño Autuori, head of the mission from the University of Barcelona, ​​explained that the excavations revealed a distinctive architectural facade bearing funerary texts and an offering formula, along with a depiction of the tomb’s owner in formal attire. The chapel walls were also decorated with high-quality reliefs depicting various agricultural activities and processions transporting offerings to the tomb. Many of these reliefs retained their original colors, reflecting the exceptional artistic skill of the period’s artists. The southern chapel belonged to Ity, Iunmin’s father, and featured a false door and colorful wall decorations depicting offering scenes, although much of this decoration has been lost.

Dr. Amr El-Tayeb, Director General of the Saqqara Antiquities Area, indicated that the mission has completed the excavation work and full scientific documentation of the two shrines, in addition to implementing an integrated program of maintenance, restoration, and archaeological preservation work for the discovered architectural and decorative elements, in order to ensure their preservation and protection for future generations.