DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49271#0026
4
G. A. Reisner
swells in the ground hardly perceptible to the eye. The middle knoll is really an off-
shoot of the “northern” knoll.
IV. The distribution of the pyramids in the field. The map shows the general
distribution of the pyramids. The numbers I to XXXIII were assigned previous to
excavation merely for the sake of reference in recording. The largest pyramid, the only
large one visible on the main ridge, was numbered I, and the other large pyramids were
named in order from “north” to “south”. Then the small pyramids were numbered
backwards around the field. During the excavations, numbers were assigned to Pyrs.
XXXIV to LII, but Pyrs. XXXIV, XXXIX, XL, XLII, XLIII, XLV-XLVII, and
XLIX-LII have only been marked on the surface.
The whole field except the “southern” part of the main ridge has been carefully
examined, and it is possible to give the assurance that there are no more pyramids to be
found at Nuri except possibly on the main ridge “south” of Pyr. I. In the area “south”
of Pyr. I, we have excavated 7 small pyramids and marked down with more or less cer-
tainty the sites of 12 others equally small. The spaces between these 19 small pyramids
are filled with rough rubble hut-walls of the Christian period which have collected a deep
bed of sand so that the superficial examination of the area is difficult. However, the
denuded cores of the pyramids show on the surface as harder patches; and I consider
it fairly clear that there are no large pyramids in the area.
Pyrs. I-XX are the tombs of kings, but Pyrs. XXI-LII, as far as they have been iden-
tified, are tombs of queens. Thus the tomb of Tirhaqa (Pyr. I), surrounded on three
sides by the pyramids of the queens, occupies the “eastern” part of the field, while the
pyramids of the other kings are all on the “western” part of the field. This is certainly
no accident, in view of the large number of tombs, and while the possibility must be
admitted that some early king may have found a place for his pyramid on the unexplored
part of the main ridge, the principle must be laid down that without proof to the con-
trary a pyramid on the “eastern” side of the field must be a queen’s tomb. Every
pyramid on the “west” we already know to be the tomb of a king.
In addition to the pyramids, we have noted five ancient buildings (Nuri 200, 400,
500, 600, and 700) which appear to be mortuary chapels contemporaneous with the vari-
ous periods of the pyramids. Three of these have been excavated. We have also exca-
vated a Christian church (Nuri 100). Besides these buildings, the ground is encumbered
with hut-walls of the Christian period, and in places by both Christian and Mohammedan
graves. I mention these buildings and graves only for the sake of completeness. They
have no bearing on the main questions which arise.
V. General plan of the royal tombs at Nuri. The general plan of all the royal
tombs at Nuri is the same and presents three features: (1) a pyramid with an exterior
G. A. Reisner
swells in the ground hardly perceptible to the eye. The middle knoll is really an off-
shoot of the “northern” knoll.
IV. The distribution of the pyramids in the field. The map shows the general
distribution of the pyramids. The numbers I to XXXIII were assigned previous to
excavation merely for the sake of reference in recording. The largest pyramid, the only
large one visible on the main ridge, was numbered I, and the other large pyramids were
named in order from “north” to “south”. Then the small pyramids were numbered
backwards around the field. During the excavations, numbers were assigned to Pyrs.
XXXIV to LII, but Pyrs. XXXIV, XXXIX, XL, XLII, XLIII, XLV-XLVII, and
XLIX-LII have only been marked on the surface.
The whole field except the “southern” part of the main ridge has been carefully
examined, and it is possible to give the assurance that there are no more pyramids to be
found at Nuri except possibly on the main ridge “south” of Pyr. I. In the area “south”
of Pyr. I, we have excavated 7 small pyramids and marked down with more or less cer-
tainty the sites of 12 others equally small. The spaces between these 19 small pyramids
are filled with rough rubble hut-walls of the Christian period which have collected a deep
bed of sand so that the superficial examination of the area is difficult. However, the
denuded cores of the pyramids show on the surface as harder patches; and I consider
it fairly clear that there are no large pyramids in the area.
Pyrs. I-XX are the tombs of kings, but Pyrs. XXI-LII, as far as they have been iden-
tified, are tombs of queens. Thus the tomb of Tirhaqa (Pyr. I), surrounded on three
sides by the pyramids of the queens, occupies the “eastern” part of the field, while the
pyramids of the other kings are all on the “western” part of the field. This is certainly
no accident, in view of the large number of tombs, and while the possibility must be
admitted that some early king may have found a place for his pyramid on the unexplored
part of the main ridge, the principle must be laid down that without proof to the con-
trary a pyramid on the “eastern” side of the field must be a queen’s tomb. Every
pyramid on the “west” we already know to be the tomb of a king.
In addition to the pyramids, we have noted five ancient buildings (Nuri 200, 400,
500, 600, and 700) which appear to be mortuary chapels contemporaneous with the vari-
ous periods of the pyramids. Three of these have been excavated. We have also exca-
vated a Christian church (Nuri 100). Besides these buildings, the ground is encumbered
with hut-walls of the Christian period, and in places by both Christian and Mohammedan
graves. I mention these buildings and graves only for the sake of completeness. They
have no bearing on the main questions which arise.
V. General plan of the royal tombs at Nuri. The general plan of all the royal
tombs at Nuri is the same and presents three features: (1) a pyramid with an exterior