Ancient tombs dating back 5,000 years unearthed in Egypt’s Minya Province

KATHMANDU: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the discovery of two ancient tombs dating back nearly 5,000 years in the Minya Governorate, south of Cairo.

The findings belong to the Early Dynastic Period (circa 3100–2686 BC) and were uncovered during an archaeological mission in the region.

According to Hisham El-Leithy, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the first tomb is considered a rare architectural example due to its distinctive geometric design.

The structure reflects an advanced level of early engineering thought not commonly seen in similar burial sites.

The second tomb, located south of the first, shares a similar structural design but was found in a significantly better state of preservation, as it had not been subjected to later excavations or disturbances.

Mohamed Abdel Badie, head of Egypt’s antiquities sector, explained that the walls of the first tomb gradually narrow from base to top—a construction technique that offers valuable insight into early architectural evolution.

He noted that this design concept may represent an early developmental stage leading toward the construction methods later used in step pyramids and fully developed pyramids.

Despite partial stone removal in later historical periods, remaining structural elements still provide important evidence of ancient construction techniques, including stone-cutting methods and the use of wooden supports to reinforce walls.

In addition, several other tombs from both pre-dynastic and post-dynastic periods have been discovered in the nearby mountainous area of Jabal al-Tair, around 25 kilometers northeast of Minya city.

Egypt’s Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, said these discoveries offer valuable insights into the evolution of funerary architecture and engineering styles across different eras of ancient Egyptian civilization.