RARE TREASURES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22393, 14 April 1936, Page 9

RARE TREASURES

ANCIENT EGYPT SECRET TOMB FOUND REMARKABLE CONTENTS ART AND INDUSTRY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, April 12 The Sun-Herald news service says the discovery of a secret tomb 5500 years old in the chambers close to the Step Pyramid at Sakkara yields a wonderful picture of art and industry in ancient Egypt, and will result in the rewriting of the history of the earliest civilisation. Already 42 chambers have been discovered by a young English archaeologist, Mr. W. J}. Emery. They are 2000 years older than Tutankhamen's tomb and contain mummies and inlaid boxes evidently intended for a game similar to chess or draughts. Enormous flint knives, still as sharp as razors, and lengths of rope are perfectly preserved. Ivory and bronze discs with hunting scenes inlaid are among the other treasures. The storerooms contain scores of stone jars, once filled with meat and grain for the dead, also a complete set of dishes, plates and cups. The chapel is flanked by fluted columns which ante-date Doric columns bv 1500 years.

The discovery revolutionises the theories ©f early Greek as well as Egyptian architecture. The majority of the chambers are still unopened and further remarkable discoveries are expected.

In the Step Pyramid of Sakkara., or Saqqara, the passages are very peculiar and intricate, winding around the principal chamber, which is in the centre, cut in the rock, very high, and with a tomb-chamber built in the bottom of it. This is closed with a great plug of red granite. A doorway faced with glazed tiles, bearing the name of King Neter-khet of the 3rd dynasty existed here.