Czech Team Rediscovers Tombs at Saqqara
Archaeologists have relocated the lost tombs of two Fifth Dynasty officials, Sabu and his son Ptahshepses, near the ancient Egyptian necropolis.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Geography
A Czech archaeological mission has rediscovered the tombs of Sabu and Ptahshepses at Saqqara, two officials tied to the worship of the god Ptah. Researchers also uncovered an offering chapel belonging to Sabu's wife, Ikhetneferet.
Why it matters
The tombs had been lost after sand reburied them following excavations in the late 1850s, so their relocation restores access to monuments of two important religious figures. The find adds detail to the administrative and religious elite of the Fifth Dynasty.
Sabu's tomb measures 177 feet by 92 feet (54 by 28 meters), and Ptahshepses' tomb covers more than 900 square meters. Auguste Mariette identified about 160 tombs at Saqqara between 1858 and 1860, but only partly excavated many of them.
The players
Auguste Mariette
A French Egyptologist who identified and partially excavated many tombs at Saqqara in the late 1850s and later became a central figure in Egyptian antiquities administration.
Charles University
A public university in Prague whose Czech archaeological mission led the rediscovery of the tombs at Saqqara.
The details
Ptahshepses served under four Fifth Dynasty kings (Sahure, Neferirkare, Raneferef, and Nyuserre) and was the first known non-royal official to marry an Egyptian princess, Khamaat, daughter of King Userkaf. Researchers relocated his tomb using satellite images and archaeological surveys, and a descending passage on its eastern side leads to a burial chamber with a limestone sarcophagus.
Timeline
1858-1860: Auguste Mariette identifies and partially excavates about 160 tombs at Saqqara, after which sand buries the monuments again.
Historical Context
Mariette's 1858-1860 excavations identified about 160 tombs at Saqqara, but sand reburied many of them before their positions were recorded precisely. The Czech mission's use of satellite images and surveys to relocate Ptahshepses' tomb builds on that early survey work.
Satellite imagery and surveys can now relocate archaeological sites that were lost after earlier excavations. Researchers can use similar methods to recover the positions of buried monuments elsewhere.
The takeaway
Lost archaeological sites can often be recovered by combining older excavation records with modern satellite imagery and fieldwork. The method shows how past surveys remain useful for future discovery.
Further reading
For more on how ancient sites are located and mapped, explore Geography.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GreekReporter.
