The mummy, which is the remains of a man named Hekashepes, is believed to be one of the oldest and most complete non-royal bodies yet found in Egypt.
The find was made in a 15 meter deep shaft in the burial city of Sakkara south of Cairo. Three other graves were also found at the same location.
In one of those graves lay a man called Khnumdjedef who is said to have been, among other things, a priest. Another of the tombs belonged to a man called Meri who is said to have been a high-ranking person at court with the authority to perform special religious rituals.
In a third grave lay a man named Fetek who is believed to have been a judge and writer.
On the UNESCO World Heritage List
Several objects were also found among the graves, including ceramics, which according to Egyptologist Zahi Hawass are all believed to be around 4,000 years old.
– This find is important because it connects the kings with the people who lived around them, says archaeologist Ali Abu Deshish, who also participated in the excavations.
The necropolis of Sakkara, south of the Giza Pyramids, was an active burial site for more than 3,000 years and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historically Valuable Area of Memphis.
Egypt has showcased many major archaeological finds in recent years with the intention of reviving the tourism industry after the corona pandemic.