Saqqara served as capital of Egypt, Saqqara remained in use as a burial ground for nobles. Moreover, the area became an important destination for pilgrims to a number of cult centres. Activities sprang up around the Serapeum, and extensive underground galleries were cut into the rock as burial sites for large numbers of mummified ibises, baboons, cats, dogs, and falcons. Saqqara and the surrounding areas of Abusir and Dahshur suffered damage by looters during the 2011 Egyptian protests. Store rooms were broken into, but the monuments were mostly unharmed. During routine excavations in 2011 at the dog catacomb in Saqqara necropolis,
Palace Site used by ancient cultures worldwide, was abundant, covering the remains. A spear point found beneath the woman's lower back appears to have been intentionally placed there during burial. Also found in the grave were a small polished stone, a flint chip from stone tool making, and wood charcoal. The OSA Burial Protection Program is legally responsible for investigating, preserving and reinterring ancient human remains. Since Iowa's burial protection law passed in 1976, the program has handled over 2,000 projects in 98 of Iowa's 99 counties. Removal and reburial of the human remains found at the Palace site is taking place