Archaeologists at the Saqqara necropolis have unveiled the pristine tomb of Mehu-Sutekh, a high-ranking official from the Sixth Dynasty who served as the 'Overseer of the Royal Treasury and Foreign Trade.' The discovery is particularly significant for its exceptionally well-preserved wall paintings that depict the loading and unloading of massive wooden galleys, providing the most detailed visual evidence to date of Egypt's maritime expeditions to the Land of Punt during the Old Kingdom.
The tomb complex includes a primary limestone sarcophagus and a secondary chamber containing a collection of exotic goods, including raw obsidian and bundles of what appear to be fossilized incense resins. Dr. Mostafa Waziri, head of the mission, noted that the inscriptions credit Mehu-Sutekh with securing rare minerals and aromatic woods for the Pharaoh's court, highlighting the sophisticated logistics of Egypt's early global reach.