Archaeologists uncover ancient Egyptian royal remains and official tombs

Recent archaeological findings in Egypt have provided new insights into the lives of ancient royals and high-ranking officials. A study published in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology examines the skeletons of six royals, including Princess Ita and King Hor, which were rediscovered in the Egyptian Museum’s basement. Researchers suggest that these royal women, including princesses Ita, Khenmet, Itaweret, and Sathathormeryt, may have been active participants in physically demanding activities like archery and hunting, rather than the weapons found in their tombs being merely symbolic.

Separately, Czech archaeologists from the Czech Institute of Egyptology have re-excavated a group of Old Kingdom tombs at the Saqqara necropolis. The mission has documented the tombs of high-ranking officials, such as Sabu and his son Ptahshepses, who were associated with the cult of Ptah. The team also discovered a previously unknown offering chapel belonging to Sabu’s wife, Ikhetnefert, which contains reliefs depicting the family. These excavations aim to document areas that were partially explored but inadequately recorded during 19th-century expeditions.