A mission led by the Supreme Council of Antiquities has announced the discovery of an unlooted tomb in Saqqara belonging to a previously unknown official, the Director of Royal Papyrus-Quality Standards. Dating to the 19th Dynasty, the tomb features vibrant murals depicting the systematic grading of papyrus stalks based on fiber density and color, providing a unique look into the Ancient Egyptian bureaucracy of record-keeping materials.
Inside the burial chamber, researchers found a sealed limestone chest containing twelve intact papyrus rolls, each labeled with a hierarchical grade and a royal stamp. These samples were preserved through a specific resin-drying process, allowing the hieratic scripts on their tags to remain legible. The discovery offers unprecedented insight into the rigorous quality control that supported the Pharaonic administrative machine, ensuring that official decrees were recorded on only the finest grade of manufactured paper.