5,000-year-old tombs found in Minya rewrite the origins of Egyptian pyramid architecture
Archaeologists working at Jabal al-Tayr in Egypt’s Minya Governorate have uncovered two Early Dynastic tombs along with burials dating from the Predynastic and Late Periods. The finds provide new evidence about how ancient Egyptian funerary architecture developed during the centuries before pyramids appeared on the landscape.
The excavation was carried out by an Egyptian mission from the Supreme Council of Antiquities. The site, located on the eastern bank of the Nile, appears to have served as a burial ground for thousands of years. Evidence from several different eras shows people continued using the area from the Predynastic period through the Late Period of ancient Egyptian history.
Researchers say the two tombs are among the most important parts of the find. Early studies show strong similarities between their design and the tomb of King Den at Abydos, one of the best-known rulers of Egypt’s First Dynasty. Those similarities suggest builders in different regions shared architectural ideas during the early stages of Egyptian state formation.
The first tomb stands out because of the way its walls were built. The walls are thicker at the bottom and gradually become thinner toward the top. Archaeologists believe this design reflects an early engineering approach aimed at improving stability. Similar principles later appeared in larger monuments, including step pyramids and the true pyramids built centuries afterward.
Although parts of the first tomb were damaged when stone blocks were removed for reuse in later periods, important details survived. Excavators found traces of oxide lines on stone surfaces, evidence linked to ancient cutting and extraction techniques. Large wooden supports were also built into the structure. Some extended across the full length of the walls, while others were installed as separate reinforcing sections. These remains provide rare information about construction methods used more than 5,000 years ago.
The second tomb lies south of the first and follows almost the same architectural plan. Unlike the neighboring structure, though, stone robbers left much of the building untouched. Because of its better state of preservation, archaeologists have been able to study original features in greater detail.
The team also uncovered part of a Predynastic cemetery. Several individuals were buried in a crouched position and wrapped in plant mats that have largely decomposed. Black-topped pottery vessels found beside some of the burials date to the Naqada II and Naqada III periods, which preceded the unification of Egypt.
Additional burials belong to the Late Period. Archaeologists identified both individual and collective graves, including some containing the remains of wooden coffins. These finds show the cemetery remained in use long after the Early Dynastic tombs were constructed.
Taken together, the discoveries paint a picture of a burial landscape used across multiple phases of Egyptian history. The site preserves evidence of changing funerary practices, architectural ideas, and construction techniques spanning several millennia. Excavations at Jabal al-Tayr are continuing, and archaeologists expect further finds from a location that still holds many unanswered questions about ancient Egypt’s earliest builders.
More information: Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
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