Tomb of little-known pharaoh unearthed in Nile Delta

Estimated to be over 4,600 years old, the tomb of the little-known Pharaoh Kha-Ba (also known as Khaa’ Ba, Hor-Khaba, or Teti), which dates back to ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom, was discovered in the town of Quesna this week, raising many questions about this former regional seat of power in the Nile Delta.

This is reportedly the first time that a tomb dating back to the days of the Old Kingdom has been discovered in Quesna, which is located in the present-day Monufiya Governorate, over 75 km north of Cairo.

The date and duration of Kha-Ba’s reign is not known, but he is believed to have ruled Egypt sometime around the year 2670 BC. This mysterious pharaoh is listed as a member of the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom (circa 2686-2613 BC). 

According to a statement issued by the Antiquities Ministry, the mastaba (a flat-roofed tomb predating pyramids) of Pharaoh Kha-Ba was unearthed on Monday by a team of foreign archaeologists known as the Egypt Exploration Society.

Professor Joanne Rowland from the Free University of Berlin, who heads up the society, explained that geophysical surveys and studies of human remains have been conducted around this archaeological site in Quesna since 2006.

Rowland added that evidence of ancient mud bricks wa discovered just north of this site in 2010, confirming the presence of archaeological remains in the area. Kha-Ba’s name was eventually found engraved on a stone seal by this mastaba in 2014, indicating the presence of a structure built in his honor.

Yet it was only on Monday that Kha-Ba’s tomb was excavated.

The tomb is 14.1 meters in length and 6 meters wide, with a corridor chapel that is almost 3 meters wide, according to the ministry’s statement.

It is a tripartite tomb with a rubble-fill in the southern section representing the primordial mound of creation, a burial shaft in the northern section, and a double burial chamber in the center, the statement added.

According to Antiquities Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty, “The discovery of this tomb is a great achievement. We still do not know much about this king and his dynasty. Much study and research must be done to unveil its history."

The last tomb or artifact attributed to the reign of Pharaoh Kha-Ba was discovered over 100 years ago.