| Hekashepes Human Mummy | |
| |
| Biographical Information | |
|---|---|
| Name(s) | HqA-Sps |
| Age | adult |
| Sex | M |
| Status | elite |
| Height | |
| Source | |
| Culture | Old Kingdom Egyptian |
| Date(s) | 2700–2200 BC |
| Site | Saqqara |
| Current Location | |
| Location | |
| Catalog # | |
Egyptian archaeologists on a years long excavation at Saqqara near Cairo, announced in January 2023, the discovery of a 33 foot deep shaft tomb dating to the fifth or sixth dynasty of Egypt's "Old Kingdom," more than 4,000 years ago. It contained a large, rectangular limestone sarcophagus of about 45 tons, the lid was about 5 tons. The lid was still sealed with mortar, as it had been left some 4,300 years ago. Inside was what is being described as one of the oldest non-royal mummies ever discovered in Egypt, the oldest mummy covered in gold leaf ever found in the country.
Studies[]
There was a name, inscribed on top of the sarcophagus: "HqA-Sps," or Hekashepes.
In addition to the layers of gold around him, the mummy also wore a band on his head, and there was a bracelet on his chest, suggesting that he was a man of great wealth. He was also wearing a tunic with a belt.
Additional[]
Saqqara is part of a sprawling necropolis at Egypt’s ancient capital of Memphis.