A joint Egyptian-German mission has unearthed a significant First Dynasty mastaba belonging to a high-ranking official identified as the "Overseer of the Royal Seals." Located in the North Saqqara necropolis, the tomb features intricate niched brickwork typical of the Early Dynastic Period and contains several subterranean chambers that have escaped the attention of tomb robbers for over 5,000 years.
Inside the burial chamber, researchers found dozens of ceramic jars bearing the serekhs of King Den, along with ivory labels detailing the official's duties in the royal court. This discovery is crucial for Egyptologists as it fills a gap in the understanding of how the centralized Egyptian state began organizing its bureaucracy and trade networks during the very dawn of pharaonic history.