During a tomb excavation, archeologists recently discovered some incredible findings in Abusir, Egypt. The team discovered a 2,600-year-old tomb which once beloved to a man of high status all those years ago. The archeologists labeled the tomb belonging to Wahibre-mery-Neith, known as a "commander of foreign mercenaries." His role as the commander was to command and supervise those mercenaries who traveled from the Aegean islands and Asia minor.
The embalming cache belonging to the tomb was discovered in 2021 and was found with more than 370 pottery storage jars which contained various substances used in the commander's mummification. The artifact was labeled as the "largest embalming cache ever found in Egypt," according to Egyptian and Czech researchers. However, grave robbers stole Wahibre-mery-Neith's mummy in antiquity - but luckily archeologists were able to discover the remains of his sarcophagus, which had some fascinating hieroglyphics etched into it. "The resurrection of the deceased and his departure to the afterlife" was engraved into the coffin, which is a quote from the Book of the Dead.
The commander was also buried with glazed ceramic shabti figurines, which ancient Egyptians thought worked for the deceased in the afterlife, and upon uncovering, Egyptian tombs were often found buried within the coffins. The commander was also found with a heart scarab, a pottery shard, an amulet, and a few more spells from the Book of the Dead. Wahibre-mery-Neith lived during the late 26th dynasty or beginning of the 27th dynasty but apparently was part of "local descent" - per his name and the findings in his tomb. So, according to Miroslav Bárta, the director of Czech excavations in Egypt, it is unclear why he was buried with such a large embalming cache.
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However, Live Science reached out to a few scholars who were not associated with this particular research to hear their opinions of the findings. And in conclusion, researchers found it "certainly an important, interesting and most welcomed discovery, although not unique in this area." Günter Vittmann, a professor of Egyptology at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg in Germany, told Live Science the "Czechs have been working in Abusir for more than twenty years already," so although a fascinating find, they have previously discovered tombs during the same era. Stay tuned for more fascinating finds.
