Belgian archaeologists have discovered the intact tomb of an Egyptian courtier who lived about 4,000 years ago, Egypt's culture ministry said Sunday.

The team from Leuven Catholic University accidentally found the tomb, one of the best preserved of its time, while excavating a later burial site at the Deir al-Barsha necropolis near the Nile Valley town of Minya, south of Cairo.

The tomb belonged to Henu, an estate manager and high-ranking official during the first intermediate period, which lasted from 2181 to 2050 B.C. and was a time of political chaos in ancient Egypt...

Loads of photographs and a much longer write up on the official website: The Tomb of Henu at Deir al-Barsha, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.

Intact tomb found in Egypt ... by accident, Reuters via MSNBC, USA, May 21, 2007. Includes video.

"Unusual" Tomb of Egyptian Courtier Found, National Geographic News, USA, May 21, 2007. Includes video.

Previously:

Belgians find tomb of ancient Egypt courtier, May 21, 2007.

Archive:

Writing on the wall, Nevine El-Aref, Al-Ahram, Egypt, Issue No.612, November 14 - 20, 2002.

A fruitful season, Nevine El-Aref, Al-Ahram, Egypt, Issue No. 653, August 28 - September 03, 2003.