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Archaeologists praise the discovery of Egypt's possibly "oldest" mummy. CAIRO – Egyptologists have discovered a Pharaonic tomb near Cairo that may contain the country's oldest and "most complete" mummy, according to the excavation team leader on Thursday.
The 4,300-year-old mummy was discovered at the bottom of a 15-metre shaft in a recently discovered group of fifth and sixth-dynasty tombs near Saqqara's Step Pyramid, according to team director Zahi Hawass.
The mummy of a man named Hekashepes was in a mortar-sealed limestone sarcophagus.
"This mummy may be the oldest and most complete mummy discovered in Egypt to date," Hawass, Egypt's former antiquities minister, said in a statement.
Among the tombs discovered was that of Khnumdjedef, an inspector of officials, a supervisor of nobles, and a priest during the reign of Unas, the fifth dynasty's final pharaoh. It was adorned with scenes from everyday life.
Meri, "keeper of the secrets and assistant to the great leader of the palace," had another tomb.
Several statues were discovered among the tombs, including one depicting a man, his wife, and several servants, according to the statement.
