Ancient Egypt’s Historic Discovery of Prince Waserif Re’s Multichambered Tomb

What is this discovery?
On April 3, 2025, in Saqqara Cemetery, Cairo, Egypt, a team of archaeologists led by Dr. Zahi Hawass discovered the multichambered tomb of Prince Waserif Re, the son of the first pharaoh of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, Userkaf. Inside the tomb was a 15-foot-tall pink granite false door inscribed with Waserif Re’s name and titles, including “heir prince.” A red granite offering table found in front of the door lists offerings made to the deceased, reflecting the tomb’s religious significance.

How important is this discovery?
This discovery is highly significant in understanding the continuity of Egypt’s royal history and dynastic structures. The remains found with Prince Waserif Re’s tomb not only illuminate the political framework of the Fifth Dynasty (2465–2458 B.C.), but also reveal the presence of other dynasties. A cartouche of Pharaoh Neferirkare (2446–2438 B.C.) was found on one wall, along with statues of Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser, his wife, and ten daughters. This suggests the site remained in use for centuries and was reused across eras, serving as evidence of Egypt’s cultural continuity.

What is the extra information?
A rare black granite statue from the 26th Dynasty (688–525 B.C.) was also discovered in this tomb, indicating it was reused nearly 2,000 years after Prince Waserif Re’s original burial. This statue reflects the continuation of artistic and religious traditions across dynasties. Dr. Hawass suggests that the Djoser statues were transferred here from a chamber near his step pyramid. This discovery enriches Egypt’s archaeological heritage and offers scholars a rare opportunity to study the cultural layers spanning multiple historical periods.