DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4657#0013
s
THE TOMB OF NETER-KHET.
probably been fitted to the haft. On the same plate,
just to the right above this object, is shown a some-
what perfect saw-flint; it is thicker, and of better
finish in the body than the selection illustrated in
the photograph below. These latter are not worked
equally on the two sides, being for the most part flat
on the under side, while the flint is worked in long
flakes down the length of the implement; the saw-
edge, however, is prominent in them all. Another
object of special interest is the forked lance, which
appears in the centre of the lower photograph. Its
workmanship in the lower half containing the forks
(below the notches about the middle) is particularly
fine, the dressing of the edge being uniform and
close. The special interest of this object, however,
appears in another fact. From one of the graves of
the cemetery at Alawniyeh there were taken out the
pieces of a lance which, when put together, resembles
this one in every respect, even in the blunted top. It
had not been restored at the time the PL. V. was
prepared ; but now that the two lie side by side in
the Pitt-Rivers Museum, the resemblance is remark-
able. The one here figured, from the settlement, is
browned, presumably from exposure ; but that from
the cemetery is of a pale and unpolished appearance.
The former, it may be added, was found in a small
black-topped pot, itself placed inverted in a large
dark pot of domestic character. The other flint
objects pictured, while of interest from their prove-
nance, call for no special comment. The large and
bolder pieces seem to have been used in the settle-
ment concurrently with the implements more finely
wrought.
23. Unsatisfactory and inconclusive though this
examination of the much-disturbed settlement may
be, there yet remain one or two points of interest to
be noted. The site was probably on the edge of
water, on a prominent rise which commanded a wide
view on all sides. The houses or shelters were con-
structed of wattle and daub, and were arranged with
sodie show of system. Fish and small animals were
used as food ; the cooking was done in large earthen-
ware pots, over fires of twigs. Arrow-heads, knives,
weapons and implements generally were of flint : the
working of these was not uniform, but the art of fine
working (of the neolithic class) was already known.
Copper, though not unknown, was extremely rare,
occurring in only two small pieces (the one apparently
a drill). The domestic vessels were coarse, but fine
work in pottery, flint and stone was accomplished
and reserved for the graves of the dead. Their
cemetery was two miles distant, to the south, in a
site not physically related to that of the settlement.
To judge from their art, in outline and in form, this
people was essentially civilised : that is to say, but
for the absence of written language (about which
there is little indication), the people of this time
were as advanced in industrial processes as those of
the earliest dynasties. Hence it seems more fitting
to speak of them as a pre-dynastic but not a pre-
historic people. And yet in date they must be placed
at the beginning of the period which has now been
archaeologically but not yet historically treated.
THIRD DYNASTY TOMBS AT
BET KHALLAF.
With Pls. VI.-XXI.
CHAPTER III.
THE TOMB OF NETER-KHET, K I.
Plates VI.-XVI.
24. The superstructure of the tomb of Neter-Khet,
described in the opening chapter, rises some 33 feet
(8 metres) above the present level of the desert
upon which it is built. It stands prominent upon a
rise of sand a mile or more behind the village of Bet
Khallaf, conspicuous from the surrounding country,
and visible even from the farther bank of the Nile.
Its south end and western side were found clear of
sand, but to the north-east it was partly hidden by
some accumulated rubbish. It is about 280 feet
(some 85 metres) long, and 153 feet (or 45 metres)
in width. Its axis is 120 W. of magnetic north, which,
from data supplied by the Department of Surveying
was at the time 40 5' W. of true north, giving as the
real angle 160 5' W. Its sides and ends had an average
batter of 5 feet at the top, but the slope is not uniform.
The base line, from corner to corner, was straight;
but at the top the side curved slightly inwards to the
extent of 20 inches at the middle. The side was built
up symmetrically to this curve. The systems of
bonding employed were not uniform : externally the
west side is almost entirely faced with " headers,"
with occasionally a course on edge to adjust the
levels; on the south end nine courses of headers
appear below three of stretchers, with four of headers
above. Internally, except in special cases, the system
THE TOMB OF NETER-KHET.
probably been fitted to the haft. On the same plate,
just to the right above this object, is shown a some-
what perfect saw-flint; it is thicker, and of better
finish in the body than the selection illustrated in
the photograph below. These latter are not worked
equally on the two sides, being for the most part flat
on the under side, while the flint is worked in long
flakes down the length of the implement; the saw-
edge, however, is prominent in them all. Another
object of special interest is the forked lance, which
appears in the centre of the lower photograph. Its
workmanship in the lower half containing the forks
(below the notches about the middle) is particularly
fine, the dressing of the edge being uniform and
close. The special interest of this object, however,
appears in another fact. From one of the graves of
the cemetery at Alawniyeh there were taken out the
pieces of a lance which, when put together, resembles
this one in every respect, even in the blunted top. It
had not been restored at the time the PL. V. was
prepared ; but now that the two lie side by side in
the Pitt-Rivers Museum, the resemblance is remark-
able. The one here figured, from the settlement, is
browned, presumably from exposure ; but that from
the cemetery is of a pale and unpolished appearance.
The former, it may be added, was found in a small
black-topped pot, itself placed inverted in a large
dark pot of domestic character. The other flint
objects pictured, while of interest from their prove-
nance, call for no special comment. The large and
bolder pieces seem to have been used in the settle-
ment concurrently with the implements more finely
wrought.
23. Unsatisfactory and inconclusive though this
examination of the much-disturbed settlement may
be, there yet remain one or two points of interest to
be noted. The site was probably on the edge of
water, on a prominent rise which commanded a wide
view on all sides. The houses or shelters were con-
structed of wattle and daub, and were arranged with
sodie show of system. Fish and small animals were
used as food ; the cooking was done in large earthen-
ware pots, over fires of twigs. Arrow-heads, knives,
weapons and implements generally were of flint : the
working of these was not uniform, but the art of fine
working (of the neolithic class) was already known.
Copper, though not unknown, was extremely rare,
occurring in only two small pieces (the one apparently
a drill). The domestic vessels were coarse, but fine
work in pottery, flint and stone was accomplished
and reserved for the graves of the dead. Their
cemetery was two miles distant, to the south, in a
site not physically related to that of the settlement.
To judge from their art, in outline and in form, this
people was essentially civilised : that is to say, but
for the absence of written language (about which
there is little indication), the people of this time
were as advanced in industrial processes as those of
the earliest dynasties. Hence it seems more fitting
to speak of them as a pre-dynastic but not a pre-
historic people. And yet in date they must be placed
at the beginning of the period which has now been
archaeologically but not yet historically treated.
THIRD DYNASTY TOMBS AT
BET KHALLAF.
With Pls. VI.-XXI.
CHAPTER III.
THE TOMB OF NETER-KHET, K I.
Plates VI.-XVI.
24. The superstructure of the tomb of Neter-Khet,
described in the opening chapter, rises some 33 feet
(8 metres) above the present level of the desert
upon which it is built. It stands prominent upon a
rise of sand a mile or more behind the village of Bet
Khallaf, conspicuous from the surrounding country,
and visible even from the farther bank of the Nile.
Its south end and western side were found clear of
sand, but to the north-east it was partly hidden by
some accumulated rubbish. It is about 280 feet
(some 85 metres) long, and 153 feet (or 45 metres)
in width. Its axis is 120 W. of magnetic north, which,
from data supplied by the Department of Surveying
was at the time 40 5' W. of true north, giving as the
real angle 160 5' W. Its sides and ends had an average
batter of 5 feet at the top, but the slope is not uniform.
The base line, from corner to corner, was straight;
but at the top the side curved slightly inwards to the
extent of 20 inches at the middle. The side was built
up symmetrically to this curve. The systems of
bonding employed were not uniform : externally the
west side is almost entirely faced with " headers,"
with occasionally a course on edge to adjust the
levels; on the south end nine courses of headers
appear below three of stretchers, with four of headers
above. Internally, except in special cases, the system