A 4,400-year-old tomb of an Egyptian father and son has been uncovered at Saqqara, revealing colourful artwork and ancient life

The 4,400-year-old tomb lies in the Mariette Necropolis and dates to the reign of King Djedkare Isesi. It contains two funerary chapels which belong to a father and son. One was built for Younmin, a senior official who served as a judge and court director. The other belonged to his father, Ity, who held administrative positions connected with agricultural land and offerings. The walls of the tomb have also preserved traces of their original colours. Scenes depicting farming activities and processions carrying offerings remain visible across the decoration. Together, the tomb’s inscriptions and artwork provide details about administration, artistic traditions and elite society in ancient Egypt during this period.What the 4,400-year-old tomb reveals about ancient EgyptThe joint Egyptian-Spanish archaeological mission uncovered the tomb in the Mariette Necropolis north of Saqqara. It dates to the late Fifth Dynasty, during the reign of King Djedkare Isesi. The monument is a medium-sized platform containing two funerary chapels for Younmin and his father, Ity. Archaeologists found preserved scenes and colourful reliefs showing agricultural work and processions carrying offerings. Many retain their original colours despite surviving for more than four millennia. The discovery was announced by Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Officials said it adds valuable information about the architecture, art and administrative life of ancient Egypt during the final phase of the Fifth Dynasty.Who was Younmin, the judge buried inside the ancient Egyptian tombYounmin appears to have held an unusually broad set of responsibilities within the state. His titles included judge and court director, while he was also chief clerk responsible for reviewing petitions and complaints. These positions place him within the administrative structure that handled legal matters and official requests. His chapel formed one half of the newly uncovered tomb. The second belonged to his father, Ity, whose work was connected with managing agricultural lands and offerings. Together, the inscriptions and burial arrangements provide a glimpse into how administrative roles could pass through families.What the tomb’s reliefs reveal about ancient Egyptian lifeReliefs depict agricultural activities and processions carrying offerings, with many surfaces still retaining their original colours. Such scenes were closely tied to funerary traditions, where food, work and offerings were represented as part of the deceased’s continuing existence. The decoration also includes carefully executed artistic details that help researchers study the visual language of the period. In Ity’s chapel, archaeologists identified additional offering scenes and a false door. These features were important elements of elite tombs, linking the burial space with rituals performed for the dead. The surviving colours make the monument valuable for understanding Old Kingdom artistic practices.How the Mariette Necropolis is helping archaeologists understand SaqqaraThe tomb also helps researchers understand Saqqara as more than a collection of famous monuments. The current joint project between the Autonomous University of Barcelona and Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities is examining the area through continued archaeological work. Researchers are interested not only in individual tombs but also in the wider organisation of the necropolis. Its spaces and monuments can reveal how people moved through the cemetery and how construction, offerings and funerary activity shaped this landscape over time.The tomb’s architecture and surviving decoration add an artistic dimension to that record. For archaeologists, the combination is valuable because it connects names, occupations, family relationships, and funerary practices within one monument.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.