A joint archaeological team has made a remarkable discovery in Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis—the tomb of Prince Waser-If-Re (also spelled Userefre), son of King Userkaf.
Among the findings is a towering pink granite structure, over 14 feet high, identified as a symbolic false door from around 4,000 years ago. Such false doors, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, were believed to serve as portals between the worlds of the living and the dead, enabling the passage of spirits.
Beyond this symbolic entrance, the team unearthed numerous artifacts. These include 13 elaborately carved high-backed chairs and an offering table made of red granite, inscribed with texts related to ritual sacrifices. Particularly notable was the discovery of a statue group depicting King Djoser, his queen, and their 10 daughters.
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Archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass suggests these statues, originally near Djoser’s famed step pyramid, may have been relocated to Userefre’s tomb during the Late Period.
Also uncovered was a large black granite statue of a man inscribed with hieroglyphs, dating back to the 26th Dynasty, as well as a second entrance inscribed with the cartouche of King Neferirkare. The pink granite statues—13 in total—are considered unique to the Saqqara site, and some are thought to depict Prince Userefre’s wives.
Excavations at the tomb continue as archaeologists seek to uncover more about the prince’s life and the reasons behind the unusual placement of royal statues within his burial site.
Source: NDTV