While finding mummies in Egypt can be somewhat common, finding all the pieces and clues needed to learn from one can be difficult. Raids on tombs over the centuries have led to partially destroyed mummies, missing artifacts and more. But archeologists have said they have likely just discovered the oldest and ‘most complete’ mummy ever found in Egypt, at a site just outside of Cairo. The mummy was decorated with gold leaf and ensconced inside a limestone sarcophagus, said Dr. Zahi Hawass, who is Egypt’s former antiquities minister. Hawass and his team discovered the mummy at the end of a 50-foot shaft.

Archeologists peer down a newly discovered shaft that led to a golden mummy, as well as other ancient items. Photo by Reuters

The remains, he said, belonged to a man who was called Heka-shepes. “The sarcophagus was found sealed with mortar, just as the ancient Egyptians had left it 4,300 years ago,” Hawass said. This mummy may be the oldest and most complete mummy found in Egypt to date.”

The mummy was in a group of ‘Old Kingdom tombs’ that included the sarcophagus of a pyramid priest and a royal palace official who was a ‘secret keeper’ named Meri. His status meant he could carry out special religious rituals. A third tomb, also for a priest, had “nine beautiful statues,” Hawass said.

He said that his group located another shaft which held a collection of wooden statues, an offering table and a stone sarcophagus containing what was determined to be the mummy of Fetek. Fetek it was determined, was a judge and a writer. The discovery also included “many amulets, stone vessels, tools for daily life, and statues of deities, along with pottery,” Hawass said.

Archaeologists found several tombs in Egypt. Pictured is the door that stood in front of the tomb at the bottom of the shaft. Photo by Getty

According to the BBC, all the items were dated back to the 25th and 22nd centuries BC. The area of Saqqara, where the newest discoveries were made, was once used as an ancient burial ground for more than 3,000 years. It is a Unesco World Heritage Site, the news outlet said.

“This discovery is so important as it connects the kings with the people living around them,” said Ali Abu Deshish, another archaeologist who helped with the excavation. This newest discovery came on the heels of multiple new discoveries in Egypt. 

Clockwise from top left: The 4,400-year-old tomb is filled with statues; the walls inside the tomb were adorned with hieroglyphics; and other wooden statues were created to resemble servants. Photos by Getty

The first one, an excavation of an entire residential city located in Luxor. Archaeologists discovered buildings, towers and ‘metal workshops’ that held pots, tools and Roman coins, dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries.

The second find came from a group of scientists with Cairo University. By using a CT scan on a mummy they had discovered, they were led to realize the boy was part of high society due to the way he was buried, and the jewelry they found with his body. Watch more on the discovery, below.

Sources: People | BBC | Daily Mail