New research on Saqqara's central field reveals it was an active limestone quarry in the Old Kingdom before becoming a mastaba field. Palace facade decoration—originally from Mesopotamia—appeared in pre-dynastic northern Egypt as a symbol of emerging elite power, later adopted for early dynastic palaces, royal tombs, and royal sarcophagi. Member of the Saqqara Research team sharing cutting-edge Egyptology!
Key facts claimed:
- Tomb of Waserif-Re (early to mid 5th dynasty prince) also contains palace facade carved onto exterior on southern and eastern sides facing Wadi and Nile
- Rock-cut entrance projection with single repeated niches on all three exposed sides predates Waserif-Re's burial
- Mudbrick superstructure added later obscured sections of niched palace facade decoration carved onto bedrock
- Niche decoration was not added to mudbrick element, suggesting existing decoration was not important to Waserif-Re's burial project
- Adjacent tomb of unknown 5th dynasty official built against already-eroded palace facade decoration of Waserif-Re's tomb
Sources
Unique Egyptian family statue discovered in Saqqara redefines Old ...archaeologymag.comUnique Old Kingdom family statue at Saqqara reveals innovative blend of relief and 3D carving, reshaping Egyptian art history.
New Discoveries in Saqqara Unveil Hidden Secrets Of Old, New ...sis.gov.egOne tomb, located near the northern edge of the Saqqara plateau, features a limestone-sealed shaft leading to a burial chamber. The other ...
New discoveries in Saqqara unveil hidden secrets of ... - Ahram Onlineenglish.ahram.org.eg“This new evidence suggests that Saqqara was not only a major burial site during the Old Kingdom but also became significant during the New ...
Old and New Kingdom tombs at Saqqara - The Pastthe-past.comOne of the tombs, with a limestone sealed shaft, was discovered near the northern edge of the Saqqara plateau, indicating that the necropolis ...
Limestone relief disappears from Egypt's Saqqara necropolistheartnewspaper.comThe work, taken from the tomb of a vizier called Khentika, features a motif that is extremely rare in Ancient Egyptian art.
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