A Polish-Egyptian archaeological mission completed the next phase of work in the tomb of Pharaoh Shepseskaf, located in the Saqqara necropolis near Cairo. Shepseskaf was an Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, believed to have ascended the throne after Menkaure died in 2503 BC. Unlike his predecessor, who was interred within a pyramid at Giza, Shepseskaf was buried in a mastaba, a rectangular, flat-roofed tomb known as Mastabat al-Fir’aun, or the “Bench of the Pharaoh.”

Entrance to the Mastabat al-Fir’aun at Saqqara. Credit: Jon Bodsworth

The 99.6-meter-by-74.4-meter tomb has an underground network of chambers and pᴀssageways, including an antechamber and the main burial chamber. Initially excavated in the 1920s, the site provided information that the burial chamber had been looted in ancient times, with only fragments of the royal sarcophagus remaining.

Recent excavations conducted by the Insтιтute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IKŚiO PAN), in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, have focused on a detailed investigation of the burial chamber. The team was able to recover most of the fragments of the destroyed sarcophagus, allowing for partial reconstruction. In addition, they employed advanced 3D scanning technology to create a digital model of the internal structure of the tomb and performed geophysical surveys to map the layout of the processional ramp and its surroundings.

“In the current excavation season, scientists conducted archaeological research in the burial chamber and adjacent rooms, as well as in the chapel located on the eastern side of the mastaba. In turn, conservators managed to collect many fragments of the destroyed royal sarcophagus and begin its reconstruction,” stated the Insтιтute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures of the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Northwest corner of Mastabat al-Fir’aun in Saqqarah. Credit: Jon Bodsworth

The “Pharaoh’s Mastaba” mission has been supported by donors, entrepreneurs, and Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MNiSW).

The continuation of the project is hoped to uncover more of the hidden areas of Shepseskaf’s burial complex and prove invaluable in understanding the whole Saqqara necropolis. With the synergy of advanced technology and archaeological methods, the team hopes to reconstruct the historical and cultural significance of the tomb of this enigmatic pharaoh.

More information: PAP