The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has announced the discovery of an unlooted tomb belonging to a high-ranking official named Harkhuf-neb, who held the title 'Overseer of the Royal Mines' during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu. Located in the northern sector of the Saqqara Necropolis, the tomb contains beautifully preserved wall reliefs depicting the extraction of turquoise and copper from the Sinai Peninsula.
The most extraordinary find within the burial chamber is a set of four inscribed copper tablets that appear to be the world's oldest geological maps. These tablets detail the location of mineral veins and the logistics of ancient mining expeditions, providing an unprecedented look at the administrative and technical sophistication of the Old Kingdom's resource management.