July 21, 2022
The Czech archaeological mission from Charles University working at Abusir has uncovered the shaft tomb of Wah-ib-re Mery Neith, who was the commander of foreign soldiers in ancient Egypt. The tomb was discovered during the spring excavation season and dates from the late 26th to the early 27th Dynasty, around 500 BCE. The discovery will further enrich our understanding of the concept of globalization in the ancient world.
The main tomb shaft is six meters deep and is divided into different units cut into the bedrock. The commander Wah-ib-re Mery Neith was buried in a double sarcophagus which was partly damaged by grave robbers. The outer sarcophagus is made of white limestone and the inner sarcophagus is made of basalt and is anthropoid in form. It is decorated with chapter 72 from the Book of the Dead which highlights the resurrection of the dead and their journey to the afterlife.
The inner sarcophagus contained a carved heart scarab and an amulet in the shape of a headrest. Other burial objects found in the tomb included 402 faience ushabti figurines, a model of an offering table, two alabaster canopic jars, and 10 model cups. The excavation team concluded that the tomb was robbed in antiquity, around the 4th or 5th century AD, as evidenced by two Coptic vessels found in the shaft.
As the team highlighted, this discovery will shed new light on Egyptian history after the Persian invasion of Egypt and the administrative life of officials from that period such as Wah-ib-re Mery Neith.
Rubye Tebbutt
