A joint Egyptian-German archaeological mission at Tuna el-Gebel has unearthed the unlooted tomb of a high-ranking 26th-Dynasty official. The tomb owner, identified as the 'Chief Interpreter of the Royal Court,' served during the Saite Period when Egypt maintained extensive diplomatic ties with the Mediterranean and Near Eastern worlds.
The highlight of the discovery is a multilingual papyrus scroll found resting atop the limestone sarcophagus. Initial analysis reveals the document contains diplomatic correspondence in both Egyptian Hieroglyphics and Aramaic, providing unprecedented insight into the linguistic skills and international relations of Egypt’s last great indigenous dynasty.