The New Kingdom Necropolis, which lies to the south of the causeway of Unas' Pyramid, dates back to circa 1550–1069 BCE. It is where several important officials of the Eighteenth to Twentieth Dynasties were buried. Among them are Ptahemwia, the "Royal Butler, Clean of Hands" under Kings Akhenaten (circa 1353–1336 BCE) and Tutankhamun (circa 1336–1327 BCE), Maya, the overseer of the treasury under Tutankhamun, and Tia, the overseer of the treasury during the reign of Ramesses II (circa 1279–1213 BCE). This is also the site of the tomb, which Horemheb was planning for himself before he became king.

The necropolis is particularly notable for its elaborately decorated chapels, painted reliefs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions, which provide detailed insight into the political, religious, and social structures of the period. It includes tombs of prominent viziers, military leaders, and priests who served under pharaohs such as Thutmose III, Amenhotep II, and Ramesses the Great. The complex illustrates the intersection of private and royal funerary ideology, demonstrating the ways in which elite Egyptians sought to secure eternal life through tomb architecture, cult practices, and artistic representation.

circa 1320 BCE

Memphite Tomb of Horemheb
Horemheb began construction on this tomb when he was a general under king Tutankhamun (circa 1332-1322 BCE) and Ay (circa 1322-1319 BCE). This tomb is in the necropolis of Saqqara, south of the Step Pyramid, and it was still under construction when he succeeded Ay as king. Then, of course, Horemheb began construction of a new tomb (KV57) for himself in the Valley of the Kings. The tomb was rediscovered by the Anglo-Dutch excavation of the Egyptian Exploration Society and the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden (RMO) in 1975 CE.

circa 1310 BCE

Tomb of Maya
The tomb of Maya, who was the Overseer of the Treasury and Overseer of Works and served under Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Horemheb (Dynasty XVIII), was found in 1986 CE and excavated between 1987-1991 CE. The tomb of Maya was constructed between years 1330 and 1310 BCE. The wall reliefs of the inner courtyard and entrance gateway, which still preserves traces of paint, are of exceptional quality. These beautiful relief fragments in the pylon gateway, the entrance to the inner courtyard, and that courtyard itself depict offering bearers and portraits of the tomb owner and his relatives. The fact that the subterranean tomb-chambers also have relief decoration appears to be unique in Saqqara. Relief blocks and statues from the tomb of Maya can be seen at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, and other museums around the world.

The tomb of Maya was first noted by the German Egyptologist Lepsius in 1843 CE. It was excavated in 1987-1991 CE by a joint expedition of the Egypt Exploration Society in London and the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt. For their protection, the decorated underground chambers of the tomb were dismantled in 1995 CE and reconstructed below the ground level of the outer courtyard which had been left unfinished due to Maya's death before its completion. The outer pylon and the gateway were also reconstructed at the same time.

The plan of the tomb was simple and oriented east-west, typical of the period. The tomb was entered through a pylon from the east. This pylon depicts scenes of Maya meeting his deceased wife, Meryt, and stepmother; Maya and Meryt adoring or worshipping Osiris. Next was the unfinished first courtyard, this is where the underground tomb-chambers were relocated. Next to the courtyard were the storage magazines. The passage to the second courtyard was carved with scenes of Maya and his half-brother Nahuher, Maya's stepmother, Maya and Meryt receiving offerings. The second courtyard, with the papyriform columns, contains a seated double statue of Maya and his wife Meryt. This is where the original entrance to the underground burial chambers was located. Here the south wall contains in situ blocks with scenes of Maya's family, Maya offering to seated gods. Behind this courtyard, at the western end of the tomb complex, were the funerary cult chapels.