Egypt just uncovered the 4,400-year-old tomb of an ancient powerful woman

An ancient 4,400-year-old tomb has been uncovered in Egypt, after 109 years of searching, the country's antiquities ministry announced on Saturday.

“It is the first discovery to be announced in 2018,” Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany said during a press conference at the step of the tomb in Giza's western cemetery, according to Ahram Online.

"The tomb has never been uncovered until October 2017 when the Egyptian mission started excavation in the Giza western cemetery,” El-Enany said.

While the blocks of the tomb were first unearthed in 1909 by a British explorer, who transferred them to Germany, archaeologist resumed excavations at the site last year revealing the ancient tomb.

Archaeologists believe the tomb belongs to a high-ranking female official known as Hetpet, who lived during the 5th dynasty. Egyptian media reports also refer to her as a priest.

Mostafa Al-Waziri, leader of the archaeological mission, said that Hetpet may also have had a second tomb in Giza's western necropolis, according to CBC. That area is home to the tombs of top officials of Egypt's Old Kingdom.

Waziri told Egyptian media that the tomb has the decorative elements and the the architectural style of the 5th Dynasty. 

The structure's entrance leads to an L-shaped shrine containing a purification basin. The western rear end has a rectangular area surrounded with incense holders for making offerings. There's a place where a statue of the tomb's owner should be located, but the figure is missing.

A very well-preserved wall painting depicts Hetpet however. In the images, she is standing in scenes of hunting and fishing, as well as in an image receiving offerings from her children.

"Scenes of reaping fruits, melting metals and the fabrication of leather and papyri boats as well as musical and dancing performances are also shown on walls,” Waziri said, explaining that there are paintings of monkeys, which are particularly notable.

The incredible find is just the latest in a series that have been discovered since last year. Egypt's antiquities ministry made an extra effort to highlight and promote the treasures being unearthed on a regular basis in 2017.

Ministry officials have called 2017 the "year of discoveries," organizing press conferences to announce new finds. Tombs, numerous mummies and a massive statue were discovered, along with other notable artifacts.

El-Enany previously stressed how important such archaeological discoveries are to the country's tourism sector, pointing out that the ministry must balance its budget between searching for new treasures while also maintaining other historic sites.

"If we have enough money then we have no problem,” the antiquities minister said. “But if not, we have to balance our expenses between maintaining monuments and making excavations.”

In 2014, Egypt's revenues from tourism reportedly dropped more than 90 percent, due to instability in the country. Since then, a series of terrorist attacks, some of which have targeted tourists, have left the sector struggling to regain its once vital role in the country's economy.