The tomb, near the Cairo-area necropolis of Saqqara, belonged to Khuwy, a senior official who lived during the Fifth Dynasty. The pharaohs of that dynasty ruled for about 150 years from the early 25th Century B.C. to the mid-24th Century B.C.

Archaeologists found the mummified remains of Khuwy inside the tomb. Hieroglyphs drawn within the tomb list his many titles. One of those titles was "sole friend," the equivalent of a senior official to the pharaoh. Khuwy is thought to have served the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Djedkare Isesi. His mummy was found during excavations in the 1940s. As well, archaeologists recently found on a nearby granite column an inscription containing the name of that pharaoh's wife, Queen Setibhor.

A larger chamber within the L-shaped limestone brick tomb contains a colorful depiction of the Khuwy seated at an offerings table. Archaeologists found that the people who painted the walls of the tomb used a special green resin.

Also of note were the design of the north wall and the cemetery entrance, which, archaeologists said, were in line with the design of the royal pyramids of Fifth Dynasty pharaohs.