Prince’s tomb with massive false door found at Saqqara

Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of Userefre, the son of founder of the Fifth Dynasty, King Userkaf (r. 2465-2458 B.C.), in Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis. The tomb contains a massive false door made of pink granite 4.5 meters tall and 1.15 meters wide (14.8 by 3.8 feet). It is the first pink granite false door of such immense size ever found in Egypt.

False doors were a common feature in ancient Egyptian tombs. They were thresholds between the world of the living and the afterlife and only the souls of the deceased could enter and depart through them. The bereaved would leave offerings in front of the door. During this period in Egyptian history, false doors were primarily made of limestone which was readily available everywhere in the country. Pink and red granite, on the other hand, could only be sourced in Aswan 400 miles south of Saqqara, and were very hard to quarry and very heavy to transport. Only the aristocracy could afford it, and it’s a testament to Userefre’s importance that he had so huge a block of pink granite carved for the false door of his tomb.

Userefre’s false door is covered with hieroglyphics identifying him by name and his many titles, including “Hereditary Prince,” “Governor of Buto and Nekheb,” “Royal Scribe,” “Vizier,” “Judge,” and “Chanting Priest.” The round slab in the floor in front of the door where offerings were left is also made of pink granite carved with hieroglyphics. Near the door is a red granite offering table measuring 92.5 cm (3 feet) in diameter, inscribed with lists of ritual offerings.

Another unprecedented find is a statue group depicting King Djoser, his wife, and their ten daughters. These were not original to the tomb. They were relocated there from a chamber near Djoser’s Step Pyramid for an unknown reason. A black granite statue of a male figure 1.17 meters (3.8 feet) high was also transported to the tomb from elsewhere. Its sculptural style suggests it dates to the 26th Dynasty (ca. 688 to 525 B.C.) Archaeologists believe the Djoser group and the black granite statue were moved to the tomb at some time during the 26th Dynasty.

Only part of the tomb has been uncovered so far. Excavations are ongoing, and the team hopes to find the burial chamber soon.

* This article was originally published here