'Lost' Since 1885, Tomb Found Near Cairo

Archaeologists have discovered the 3,300-year-old tomb of the ancient Egyptian capital's mayor, whose resting place had been lost under the desert sand since 1885, when treasure hunters first carted off some of its trove—only to forget its location. Some of the stolen artifacts ended up in museums, providing the only clues about the missing tomb until now. In the side sanctuaries and other chambers they uncovered, archaeologists found a vivid wall engraving of people fishing from boats made of bundles of papyrus reeds. There were also amulets and fragments of statues.

Ptahmes, the mayor of Memphis, also served as army chief, overseer of the treasury and royal scribe under Seti I and his son and successor, Ramses II, in the 13th century BC. A Cairo University team found the tomb during new excavations that started in 2005. The inner chambers of the large, temple-style tomb and Ptahmes' mummy remain undiscovered.
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