Egyptian princess's tomb from 2500 BC uncovered

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http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/egyptian-princesss-tomb-from-2500-bc-uncovered/story-e6freoo6-1226509581174

EGYPT'S antiquities minister announced overnight the discovery of a princess's tomb dating from the fifth dynasty (around 2500 BC) in the Abu Sir region south of Cairo.

"We have discovered the antechamber to Princess Shert Nebti's tomb which contains four limestone pillars," Mohamed Ibrahim said.

The pillars "have hieroglyphic inscriptions giving the princess's name and her titles, which include 'the daughter of the king Men Salbo and his lover venerated before God the all-powerful,'" he added.

Mr Ibrahim said that the Czech Institute of Egyptology's mission, funded by the Charles University of Prague and directed by Miroslav Bartas, had made the discovery.

"The discovery of this tomb marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the sepulchres at Abu Sir and Saqqara," Mr Ibrahim said.

The Czech team also excavated a corridor in the southeast of the antechamber, which leads off to four other tombs, two of which have already been discovered separately.

The two tombs belonged to high-ranking officials including a "grand upholder of the law" and an "inspector of the servants of the palace," according to their inscriptions. They date from the fifth pharaonic dynasty.

The discoveries have all been made during the excavation season, which began in October, said Usama al-Shini, director of the Supreme Council of Antiquities for Giza.

The corridor contains four limestone sarcophagi that contain statuettes of a man, a man accompanied by his son, and two men with a woman.

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http://ff.cuni.cz/FF-7563.html?pid=3457 (translation by Google translator, so bear with it, the original article is in Czech; there are some images at the link)

New unique ancient Egyptian burial elite pyramid field at Abusir - exceptional discovery Czech archaeologists from the time of the pyramid builders

Czech Egyptologists from the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague have discovered the funerary complex of high dignitaries, including the Egyptian Old Kingdom Egyptian princess Court dated to around 2500 BC "This is a unique discovery are opening a new chapter in the history necropolis at Abusir," commented Prof. success of the Czech team. Miroslav Barta, head of the archaeological expedition at Abusir. "We can look back over 4,500 years and, step by step, documenting life after death and the existence of several important historical figures from the time of the pyramid builders."

The whole hitherto little explored complex consists of several well-preserved mastabas, rock tombs and spectacular courtyard with pillars that bear the name and titles of ancient Egyptian princess. Staroegyptští builders probably used a natural hollow in the bedrock to build four meters deep Justice, which is almost lost among the dignitaries mastaba built around a higher level. The northern and western walls were paneled Justice limestone blocks, while the southern wall was carved in the rock. The eastern wall was also built of limestone and along it runs from north to south a long staircase of limestone slabs.
In the courtyard there are four pillars that originally supported Architraves with ceiling blocks. All four pillars bear the inscription on the south side of the name and titles of the owner: "My daughter, the king, by his beloved, revered before the Great God, Šeretnebtej." owner of this court is still unknown princess and preliminary research indicates that lived in the second half of the 5th dynasty, ie 4,500 years ago. It is noteworthy that the Princess Court is located in the southern part of the Abusir necropolis among the tombs of dignitaries, while most members of the royal family at that time had buried about 1 km north near the pyramid complexes of Egyptian rulers 5th Dynasty, where thirty years ago the then Czechoslovak team examined the pyramid complexes Raneferef king and his mother, Queen Khentkaus II, or the tomb of the late 5th princesses Dynasty.

Juts out from the courtyard to the east wall of the corridor and southern courtyard and corridors are four entrances to the tombs excavated in the rock directly to the south. Yet been explored three tombs, which were high-ranking dignitaries. The owner of one inspector was Duaptah courtiers, he built a second high judicial official Big House Šepespuptah and easternmost tomb belonged to the superior typists working groups unfair. The first two tombs probably originate from the reign Djedkare Isesiho (25th century BC), the latter seems to be a little older. The last tomb, which is located between unfair and Šepespuptahovou tomb, archaeologists still being examined and the name of its owner is not yet known.

In research of Justice, corridors and rock tombs, the Czech team managed to make unique discoveries, including an exceptional set of sculptures. The hallway was between inputs into the tombs placed four large limestone naa-bound statues. The westernmost of them shows a man, another man with a young son and the eastern side of the hallway after entering the tomb unfair naa depicting three figures, a woman and two men in the middle and on the sides. Their identity is subject to further archaeological and historical research.

Inside unfair tomb waiting for archaeologists another surprise. In the west wall to its original place preserved beautifully decorated false doors that served soul owners to transition from that world to this one, in order to satiate the offerings. False doors cover the inscriptions, which were unfair and his wife Hathorneferet magically provide enough food for their posthumous existence, and also calculate their titles and ranks. Hieroglyphic signs are not only carved but also painted and the original colors are still well preserved.

In the entrance of the tomb Czech team discovered the serdab, a walled recess in which Nefer hid the statue. Serdab was discovered intact and contained four limestone polychrome sculptures, which depicted unfair in several different roles, two statues of him appear as kráčícího dignitaries, others as a scribe with papyrovým scroll on his lap and the last statue shows him with his wife Hathornefretou that tenderly embraces him around shoulders.

Fragments of other sculptures were found in the yard and in the corridor. It is the largest collection of statues of dignitaries who managed to appear in Abusir. Quality artistic design is quite exceptional and reflects the high status of the owner.

"Archaeological work of our team are still ongoing, I believe that we can expect more archaeologically and historically significant discoveries," summed up the success of Czech Egyptologists doc. Michal Stehlik, Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague.

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Statues of 5th dynasty top officials discovered in Abusir - Ancient Egypt - Heritage - Ahram Online

http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/9/40/58445/Heritage/Ancient-Egypt/Statues-of-th-dynasty-top-officials-discovered-in-.aspx

During routine excavations in Abusir South, 30km north of Giza plateau, Czech excavators from the Czech Institute of Egyptology of the Charles University in Prague, unearthed a collection of fifth dynasty ancient Egyptian statues.

Miroslav Barta, the head of the Czech mission told Ahram Online that the statues were found in a hidden tunnel located inside a rock-hewn tomb of Iti, the crew inspector. His tomb is located between two rock-hewn tombs of two fifth dynasty high officials: the overseer of the crew scribe, Nefer, and the chief of justice of the Shepespuptah great house.

Although the exploration of the tunnel suggests that it was subjected to looting in antiquity, nine wooden and painted limestone statues were found inside.

"It seems that tomb raiders did not recognise the importance, nor the beauty of such statues, so they left them in situ but, regretfully, six were broken into two as a result of the robbers' activities, with three found intact," Barta told Ahram Online. Perhaps, he continued, they were searching for jewellery or the like.

These statues were found scattered in the tunnel, some  standing in their original position, others laying on the floor. Two of the fragments were made of wood, while the rest of the statues were made of limestone and most of them still have polychromy. Only one statue is inscribed with the deceased's name, Iti.

Barta says the discovery is very important because it shows the traditions of ancient Egyptian burial practices, the society, environment, art and history of the fifth dynasty. Excavation is continuing for more evidence of that era in Egypt's ancient history.

Abusir means The House of Osiris, the god of the dead and resurrection. Abusir became a royal burial place during the reign of King Userkaf, founder of the fifth dynasty, who built a remarkable and unique solar temple. Some of his successors built their own burial and solar temples there. The last solar temple was built by King Menkauhor at the end of the fifth dynasty.