Archaeologists working in the Saqqara necropolis have announced the discovery of a remarkably well-preserved tomb belonging to a high-ranking official named Amenhotep-Seneb, who held the title "Master of the Royal Scribes for the Turquoise-Mines" during the reign of Thutmose III. The tomb features vibrant wall paintings detailing the arduous expeditions to the Sinai Peninsula, showing the logistics of transporting precious minerals back to the royal workshops in Memphis.
Inside the burial chamber, the team recovered a set of lapis-lazuli inlaid inkwells and several bronze styluses, signifying the high status of the deceased. These artifacts are exceptionally rare, as most scribe kits found from this period are made of wood or simple clay. The presence of these luxury items suggests that the oversight of the turquoise trade was one of the most lucrative administrative roles in the New Kingdom's civil service.