It doesn't matter how much time passes by; archaeologists continue to unearth hidden gems from history. This time, they've uncovered a tomb that is believed to be more than 4,000 years old. The discovery, which dates back to ancient Egypt, is believed to have belonged to one of that period's most powerful people.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Interestingly, the tomb also features what ancient Egyptians believed to be a portal to the afterlife. Archaeologists made the discovery at the Bubasteion Necropolis in Saqqara. That site has long been viewed as one of Egypt's most important archaeological areas.
Inside the tomb, hieroglyphs depicted that the burial area belonged to a senior official called Sakhnetio-Btah. Based on the style of the tomb and the hieroglyphs, archaeologists have dated it back to the time of the 'Old Kingdom.'
Within the structure, Sakhnetio-Btah was described as being the 'keeper of the king's secrets.' That means, during his lifetime, Sakhnetio-Btah would have been deep within the pharaoh's inner circle. Of course, that description comes via interpretation of the hieroglyphic inscriptions.
"Experts believe it referred to a high-ranking official who handled confidential royal documents and decrees on behalf of an Old Kingdom pharaoh," the Daily Mail reports.
A Statement About the Tomb in Egypt Has Since Been Released
Following the discovery, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities released a statement.
"The hieroglyphic inscriptions... helped to determine the name of the owner of the cemetery and the number of his titles, including the keeper of royal secrets, which reflect the high status he held in the administrative system of the ancient state," the statement said.
Elsewhere within the tomb, ritual objects were also discovered. Those objects included an offering table, an offering slab and a purification basin, per The Daily Mail.
The find is proof that there is still so much we are yet to discover about human history. Every time a new tomb, burial site, or area of wonder is discovered, we get another glimpse into the past. Egypt is certainly one of the richest archaeological sites on the planet. However, these finds are happening all across the world.
It's always exciting to see what they'll find next!
