Ancient Egyptian tomb reveals beliefs about life and death

Josep Cervelló, an archaeologist from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Spain, recently presented his discovery of a double mastaba, a type of ancient Egyptian tomb, belonging to Yunmen and his father, Iti, dating back to around 2400 BC.

Yunmen was a high-ranking official who served as the head of scribes in the capital city of Memphis. The unusual tomb features two chapels, reflecting Yunmen’s devotion to his father, a provincial official.

Cervelló explained that the excavation of the tomb cost between 40,000 and 50,000 euros, funded through the UAB and grant applications. He began working on Egyptian archaeology in 1997, drawn to the origins and early dynasties of ancient Egypt because of his mother’s career as an Italian archaeologist. He believes the Egyptians had a unique relationship with the supernatural world, maintaining communication with the deceased and seeing their lives extend beyond the physical realm.

The archaeologist noted that Egyptians invested heavily in tombs, demonstrating their love and respect for those who had passed away. He contrasts this with modern secular society, which he feels has lost connection to these beliefs. He also described the discovery of artifacts from a previous tomb looting, including statuettes and reliefs that later appeared on the antiquities market, even in Spanish galleries, urging people not to purchase stolen art.

Despite the looting, his team found intact deposits left to ensure the tomb’s longevity and eventually uncovered Yunmen’s tomb itself.