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Archaeologists have discovered a new Egyptian pyramid buried under the sands in Egypt. The pyramid, which is 4,300 years old, is believed to belong to Queen Sesheshet, the mother of Pharaoh Teti, who was the founder of the  Egyptian dynasty.

Earlier it stood as tall as five stories, but is now buried under 23 feet of sand. This is the second tomb found in Saqqara, which happens to be an ancient royal burial complex situated near present day Cairo. The area of the pyramid was considered  to be a place for sand. Only tomb robbers knew that there was a pyramid, who placed a shaft into the funerary chamber.

On account of the tomb robbers, one may not be able to find the mummy of the Queen. But archaeologists will be able to find inscriptions telling us about the queen. Her name Seshat means goddess of writing and history.

This might be the most complete subsidiary pyramid according to Zahi Hawaas, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt.

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After a search of two decades archeologists have been able to unearth a new pyramid at Saqqara in Cairo. This tomb is of a queen’s who lived more than 4,300 years ago. The place from where it has been excavated is an antique burial compound.

Who Is She?

It is believed to be of Pharaoh Teti’s mother, Queen Seshehet. They belonged to the 6^th Egyptian dynasty.

The Lost Pyramid

The pyramid originally was almost as tall as five stories, now it is under the cover of 7 meters of sand. With the discovery of this, the total number of tombs discovered around that of Teti’s become three.

More Surprises

No one knows how many secrets still lay under the sands of Egypt because quite unexpectedly the archeologists also dug out the remains of the limestone casing of the tomb also. This discovery proves that the pyramid was almost 46 feet and 72 feet at the base.

The archeologists are baffled at the discovery of this new tomb as after the excavation of the two tombs of Teti’s two wives they did not expect another tomb here.

Puzzled Researchers

At present, archeologists are suggesting as to why Teti might have made this tomb for his mother. Most of them are of view that like all good sons Teti too respected and loved his mother. Therefore, on her death build this huge pyramid to pay a tribute to her. After all, pharaoh or no pharaoh everyone loves his mother.

The earliest known cases of malaria has been discovered by scientists in two Egyptian mummies,which happen to be 3,500 years old.

Researchers in Germany conducted studies on samples of bone tissue taken from 90 mummies discovered in the ancient, Thebes in Egypt which is now Luxor.

Two of the adult mummies belonging to separate tombs contained tissues, which had ancient DNA from a malaria causing parasite.

Another team from University College, London, discovered a pair of skeletons ( a woman and a child), which happen to be 9,000 year old, off the coast of Israel. These skeletons are infected with tuberculosis and are the oldest known cases of the disease.

The examination of DNA for clues in understanding organisms that cause diseases and how they evolve can have an immense impact on modern medicine. One will be able to understand how these deadly diseases affect people.

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The use of psychoactive drug use in ancient Andes has been discovered in the hair of mummies, according to a new study. The predecessors of Inca, the Tiwanaku made use of mind-altering drugs. Drugs were made available through wide trade networks.

The details of the findings have been highlighted in the Journal of Archaeological Science, October issue.

Recently, scientists observed 32 mummified Tiwanaku bodies, which were discovered in Northern Chile’s Azapa Valley, located in the Atacama Desert.

The researchers found harmine compound in the hairs of a male adult and a year old baby, dating somewhere between A.D.800 and 1200. Harmine helps humans to absorb hallucinogens and is probably a strong antidepressant.

Harmine was probably used for medicinal and therapeutic practices, some related to childbirth and pregnancy according to study co-author, Juan Pablo Ogalde, chemical archaeologist, University of Tarapaca, Arica, Chile. It is also possible harmine may have been used in religious rituals.

Snuff kits have been found containing Vilca tree  powder. X-rays of  Tiwanaku skulls show  nasal damage, which could have been perhaps caused by frequent sniffing. Also snuffing imagery has been portrayed in Tiwanaku ceramics, stone work, wood work and textiles, which indicate snuffing rituals were part of the Tiwanaku culture.

Alexei Vranich, archaeologist, University of California, Los Angeles, who did not take part in the study said that many were attracted to the Tiwanaku religion because of the usage of these mind-Altering substances.

An engraved animal model found buried next to a prehistoric toddler at Stonehenge may stand for Britain’s first known toy, researchers opine.

The only one of its kind chalk relic is of a pig or hedgehog , considered to be around 2,000 years old; it was unearthed last September close to the famous stone monument of England’s Salisbury.

This Bronze Age carved animal model was made as a plaything or in remembrance of a stillborn baby or an infant who died very young, the archaeologist believes.

The finding was made during a project of the Stonehenge Riverside, a 7-year archaeological exploration of this Stonehenge area. The project is also backed by the National Geographic Society.

The burial was exposed during the excavation of an antique palisade.

Proofs of toys during the period of British history are exceedingly limited.

The infant’s grave, uncertainly dated between 800 B.C - 20 B.C., also  includes a ceramic vessel, which might have contained foodstuff intended meant for the child’s crossing to his afterlife according to the team.

The dig of the post also exposed the corpse of another infant along with the carcass of a goat or sheep.

A mound of pebbles placed over the head of the animal, point to a sacrificial burial.

It is possible that the 2 infants are human sacrifices, than likely to have died naturally. However, there was also a high incidence of child mortality at that time so natural death can not be ruled out completely.

At present, archeologists are fighting over what the animal is — a pig or a hedgehog.

The rapid development taking place close to Abydos, an archaeological site in Egypt is damaging the sacred place of gathering for pilgrims according to experts.

Several Egyptians crossed the desert surrounding Abydos somewhere between 664 B.C. to A.D. 395 in order to pay homage to the God of Dead, Osiris. Quite a few of the earliest pharaohs are buried on this site.

Development of new farms as well as buildings has affected the site in many ways, which is also known as the Mecca of Egypt. The temples and tombs in this area were more of a home for the Egyptian hieroglyphics.

International archaeologists are also trying to protect Abydos from such deterioration. It is from this site that we come to know a lot about the origin of Egyptian pharaohs and their culture.

The site has also be nicknamed as Omm El Qaab, which in Arabic is termed as Mother of Pots. The pharaohs built the desert in order to avoid damage from the farming practices and annual floods from the Nile.

Local farmers have started reclaiming the land in the Abydos desert. Rapid growth in population has led to constructions around the monuments located on the site, thus damaging some of them.

Special importance in preserving the site has to be given as it throws light on the cultural history of the pharaohs and the richness of the Egyptian culture.