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Experts studying a 4,400-year-old ancient Egyptian burial site have uncovered a significant find.
The underground chamber, which was owned by a previously unidentified prince named Userefre, includes a substantial pink granite ‘false door’ – the biggest found to date inEgypt.
The door, which is 4.5 meters tall and 1.15 meters wide (15 feet by 4 feet), looks like a working door but does not actually open.
Rather, specialists think it had deep spiritual importance – acting as a symbolic gateway through which the soul of the deceased could journey to the next world.
This ‘gateway’ illustrates the significant time and effort that were invested in attaining eternal rest.
The finding, located in Egypt’s Saqqara burial ground, occurred during an archaeological expedition headed by Dr. Zahi Hawass, former head of antiquities.
The door features hieroglyphic writings that outline Prince Userefre’s notable titles, such as ‘Hereditary Prince, Administrator of the Buto and Nekhbet areas, Royal Scribe, Minister, Judge, and Chanting Priest.’
The royal, also known as Prince Waser–If–Re, as mentioned in the inscriptions, was the son of King Userkaf, the founder of Egypt’s Fifth dynasty.
Although he held numerous titles, the prince and his burial site were previously unknown to researchers.
“Prior to this finding, we were unaware of his existence,” said Ronald Leprohon, professor emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Toronto.The Archaeologist.
Dr. Melanie Pitkin, of Cambridge University, haspreviously explainedhow deceptive entrances were designed to function as gateways enabling the spirit – or ‘ka’ – of the departed to travel between the tomb and the realm beyond.
“Family members and priests would visit the tomb where the false door was located, reciting the name of the deceased along with their accomplishments and leaving gifts,” she stated.
The spirit of the deceased would then magically move between the burial chamber and the underworld.
It would arrive and take the food, beverages, and gifts from the tomb to support its existence in the afterlife.
Next to the false door, researchers also discovered 13 high-backed chairs, each adorned with statues carved from pink granite.
Most deceptive entrances found in Egyptian burial sites are constructed from limestone, which was plentiful during that era.
Pink and red granite was uncommon and needed to be mined and moved from Aswan – approximately 650 kilometers distant.
Consequently, it was designated for the nobility.
The significant dimensions of this specific false door indicate Prince Userefre’s high rank in the royal structure.
The archaeologists also discovered a red granite offering table with a diameter of 92.5cm, adorned with carved inscriptions detailing ritual sacrifices.
The tomb also featured a large black granite statue of a man standing, which was 1.17 meters in height.
The individual depicted in this statue – with their name engraved on its chest – seems to belong to a later era, suggesting the tomb might have been used again.
Researchers at the location are continuing their efforts to find the prince’s true tomb.
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