Saqqara Necropolis
سقارة
Egypt · Giza
In brief
It is one of Memphis's principal burial grounds and contains pyramids, mastabas and underground tombs from different periods. It is part of the Memphis and its Necropolis World Heritage inscription.
What was found?
- 1Wahty's decorated tomb
It is a richly decorated tomb found during investigations in the Sacred Animal Necropolis. It is a tangible example of funerary art at Sakkara.
- 2Inscribed wooden coffin
A large anthropoid wooden coffin bearing hieroglyphs written in yellow paint was found in a niche in the burial shaft. It documents Late Period burial equipment.
- 3Sacred animal mummies
Various animal mummies were uncovered in a group of finds containing sacred birds and animals. They show that religious practices associated with animals took place alongside human burials in the necropolis.
- 4Faience shabtis
365 faience shabti figurines were found around the wooden coffin. The presence of hieroglyphic texts on some shows that burial equipment was also associated with writing.
- 5Canopic jars
Three terracotta canopic jars were found in the same group of finds. These jars were used to preserve separately the internal organs removed during mummification.
What does it point to?
Sakkara was a long-lived necropolis that accumulated burial traditions from different periods in the same area. Coffins, figurines, and canopic jars show that preparations for the afterlife brought together different types of objects.
What did it teach us?
- It documented that Sakkara was a cemetery reused during different periods.
- It showed that human burials and sacred animal practices took place within the same extensive necropolis.
- It provided an opportunity to study Late Period burial equipment through objects found together.
Images
Latest news / selected archive
In 2020, a large assemblage consisting of more than a hundred sealed painted coffins, statues and funerary masks was announced.
Record
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian; Greco-Roman and Coptic
- Team / historical
- Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and international excavation projects
- Coordinates
- 29.8711°, 31.2164°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Dahshur Necropolis 7 km
- Giza Pyramids and Necropolis 14 km
- Tanis 138 km
- Buto 154 km
- Taposiris Magna 202 km
- Amarna 249 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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