Egypt unveils discovery of 4,300-year-old tombs

The false door of the unearthed tomb of Shendwas, father of Khonsu who both served as heads of the royal scribes during the Old Kingdom, is decorated with a painting depicting the owner sitting at a sacrifice table, in Saqqara near Cairo, Egypt, Thursday, July 8, 2010. Egyptian archaeologists have unveiled their latest discovery _ two 4,300-year-old tombs carved out of stone and unearthed in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo.


Egypt unveils discovery of 4,300-year-old tombs
By Maggie Michael
Associated Press Writer / July 8, 2010

SAQQARA, Egypt—Egyptian archaeologists on Thursday unveiled a newly-unearthed double tomb with vivid wall paintings in the ancient necropolis of Saqqara near Cairo, saying it could be the start for uncovering a vast cemetery in the area.

The tomb includes two false doors with colorful paintings depicting the two people buried there, a father and a son who served as heads of the royal scribes, said Abdel-Hakim Karar, a top archaeologist at Saqqara.

"The colors of the false door are fresh as if it was painted yesterday," Karar told reporters.

Humidity had destroyed the sarcophagus of the father, Shendwas, while the tomb of the son, Khonsu, was robbed in antiquity, he said.

Also insribed on the father's false door was the name of Pepi II, whose 90-year reign is believed to be the longest of the pharaohs. The inscription dates the double tomb to the 6th dynasty, which marked the beginning of the decline of the Old Kingdom, also known as the age of pyramids.

I want my mummy! :D

Seriously, most of the Egyptian tombs were raided centuries ago, but this is a cool find, nonetheless!

I think it is a little big for an Apple..

Like you would use for a demo or band recording studio.

What I can't figure are the guitar necks, wouldn't it be very hard to pick the strings on one of those things?

from this area which has been completely buried a very long time. They've got a lot of work ahead of them.

Hope to hear more about this site.

Thank you, unhappycamper.