DOI article:
Griffith, Francis Ll.: Progress of Egyptology: archaeology, hieroglyphic studies, etc.
DOI Page / Citation link: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12421#0028
16
Progress of Egyptology.
Excavations and Explorations.
(a) Work in 1909-10, including Repairs etc.
The following communications have been received:—
From Mr. A. M. Blackman :—
" During the last week of October and most of November, in the
unavoidable absence of Dr. Eandall-MacIver, I took charge of the Eckley
Coxe, Junr., Expedition of the University of Pennsylvania, and finished up
the work that still remained to be done on the Buhen site at Haifa.
This consisted in (1) excavating an untouched patch of the Middle
Kingdom or ' K' cemetery lying just outside of, and running parallel with,
the west wall of the ' Inner Fortification,' * (2) clearing the southern part
of the west wall of the above-mentioned fortification in order to discover
the turn of the south wall, which Dr. MacIver had not had time to locate
the previous season; (3) inserting in Dr. MacIver's plan of the site the
tombs of cemetery ' K' already discovered, and any that I happened to
find in the course of my own excavations; and (4) completing the plan of
the ' Inner Fortification ' by adding the south-west corner and commence-
ment of the south wall, if I was successful in my search.
" The excavations in cemetery ' K' resulted in the discovery of five
large tombs, all plundered anciently, one of which, however, the last to
be opened, contained objects of considerable value,! while two of the others
produced some good scarabs and beads, also alabaster toilet vases and
pottery. Among the last named were some bottle-vases of red polished
and black incised ware, like those found by Professor Petrie at Hu.
" Four of these tombs were of the same description as those previously
discovered by Dr. MacIver in cemetery ' K.' The actual place for burial
was cut in the rock and consisted of several small chambers leading out of
a large one. The entrance, a door closed by a sliding stone portcullis in a
groove, was at the west end of a sunk dromos or oblong well, at the east
end of which was a flight of steps. The Avell was covered by a
rectangular brick superstructure with square ends and a barrel-vaulted
roof. Associated with the superstructures were tapering pillars of mud-
brick, with a niche in front and, in one case, a rude basin lined with mud-
plaster. These, I suggest, are the places for making funeral offerings. In
* See Archaeological Report, 1909-1910, page 15.
t It is unnecessary to enumerate them here, since the volume dealing with the
whole series of excavations at Buhen will appear in the course of a few weeks.
Progress of Egyptology.
Excavations and Explorations.
(a) Work in 1909-10, including Repairs etc.
The following communications have been received:—
From Mr. A. M. Blackman :—
" During the last week of October and most of November, in the
unavoidable absence of Dr. Eandall-MacIver, I took charge of the Eckley
Coxe, Junr., Expedition of the University of Pennsylvania, and finished up
the work that still remained to be done on the Buhen site at Haifa.
This consisted in (1) excavating an untouched patch of the Middle
Kingdom or ' K' cemetery lying just outside of, and running parallel with,
the west wall of the ' Inner Fortification,' * (2) clearing the southern part
of the west wall of the above-mentioned fortification in order to discover
the turn of the south wall, which Dr. MacIver had not had time to locate
the previous season; (3) inserting in Dr. MacIver's plan of the site the
tombs of cemetery ' K' already discovered, and any that I happened to
find in the course of my own excavations; and (4) completing the plan of
the ' Inner Fortification ' by adding the south-west corner and commence-
ment of the south wall, if I was successful in my search.
" The excavations in cemetery ' K' resulted in the discovery of five
large tombs, all plundered anciently, one of which, however, the last to
be opened, contained objects of considerable value,! while two of the others
produced some good scarabs and beads, also alabaster toilet vases and
pottery. Among the last named were some bottle-vases of red polished
and black incised ware, like those found by Professor Petrie at Hu.
" Four of these tombs were of the same description as those previously
discovered by Dr. MacIver in cemetery ' K.' The actual place for burial
was cut in the rock and consisted of several small chambers leading out of
a large one. The entrance, a door closed by a sliding stone portcullis in a
groove, was at the west end of a sunk dromos or oblong well, at the east
end of which was a flight of steps. The Avell was covered by a
rectangular brick superstructure with square ends and a barrel-vaulted
roof. Associated with the superstructures were tapering pillars of mud-
brick, with a niche in front and, in one case, a rude basin lined with mud-
plaster. These, I suggest, are the places for making funeral offerings. In
* See Archaeological Report, 1909-1910, page 15.
t It is unnecessary to enumerate them here, since the volume dealing with the
whole series of excavations at Buhen will appear in the course of a few weeks.