Egypt unveils 'one of a kind' ancient tomb with intact colours and statues

Egypt unveiled a well-preserved 4,400-year-old tomb decorated with hieroglyphs and statues south of Cairo in Dec 2018, and officials expect more discoveries when archaeologists excavate the site further in coming months.

The tomb was found in a buried ridge at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara. It was untouched and unlooted, Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, told reporters at the site.

He described the find as "one of a kind in the last decades".

The walls are decorated with hieroglyphs and statues of pharaohs.

Photo: Excavation worker Saeed Abdel Aal stands at the recently uncovered tomb. (AP: Amr Nabil)

Mr Waziri said the tomb was unique because of the statues and its near-perfect condition.

"The colour is almost intact even though the tomb is almost 4,400 years old," he said.

Photo: Mustafa Abdo, chief of excavation workers, walks inside the tomb, where the colours were still intact after more than 4,400 years. (AP: Amr Nabil)

The tomb dates from the rule of Neferirkare Kakai, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom.