Saqqara Necropolis

Saqqara is the largest archaeological site in Egypt, stretching approximately 7 by 1.5 km along the desert plateau some 24 km southwest of Cairo. Serving as the necropolis for the ancient capital Memphis, it was in use from the 1st Dynasty (c. 2925 BC) through the Ptolemaic period. Its centrepiece is the Step Pyramid of Djoser (c. 2630 BC), designed by the architect Imhotep and representing the oldest complete stone building complex in history. Sixteen further pharaohs built pyramids here, and the 5th Dynasty's King Unas was the first to inscribe Pyramid Texts within burial chambers. The site also contains the Serapeum, underground galleries where sacred Apis bulls were interred. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.