DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50021#0020
2
I. The Cemeteries of Naga-ed-der.
The bottom of the face of the higher cliff is about forty meters from the top of the face of
the lower cliff and is separated from it by a steep slope. From the base of the lower cliff, a
low limestone shelf slopes out to the cultivation, about one hundred meters away. The surface
of this shelf is covered with a thin layer of gravel and its edge is concealed by a low alluvial
strip about ten to twenty meters wide, composed of strata of sand, gravel and black soil. On
the south, this shelf rises to a low limestone hill (marked + on Pl. 3 b) separated from the
third ravine by a broad low mound of alluvial deposits. The shelf and its alluvial border are
furrowed by three slight water channels and thus divided into four irregular tongues of desert-
land (see Frontispiece and Pl. 2). The alluvial deposit at the tip of the first tongue south of
the second ravine is occupied by a cemetery of the first and second dynasties (Frontispiece
cemetery and Pl. 2, i, being Cem. 3000). The base of the second tongue tip (marked 2 on Frontispiece
3000
and Pl. 2) is occupied by a tomb complex of the fourth or fifth dynasty; the tip has been
cut away by modern quarrymen cutting limestone for lime-burning. The shelf behind
cemetery these two tips is continuous and bears a field of small mastabas (Pl. 57a, fore ground) of the
'^I0° sixth to eighth dynasties together with some New Empire pitsl The third tip (marked 3 on
Frontispiece and Pl. 2) lies further back than the others, as its alluvial deposit has been cut away
cemetery by natural forces. Its slope contains a cemetery of the sixth to eighth dynasties with a few
later pits (20th). The fourth tip (marked 4 on Frontispiece and Pl. 2), which in fact clothes the
cemetery base of the limestone hill (marked + on Pl. 3 b) on the south of the shelf, contains a cemetery
1500
of the first and second dynasties (Cemetery 1500). The limestone hill itself contains rock-cut
tombs and brick mastabas of the twelfth to twentieth dynasties.
The face of the first, or lower, cliff behind the limestone shelf described above, contains
cemetery plundered rock cut tombs without incriptions. The slope from the top of the first cliff to
the base of the second contains chambered tombs and pits of the sixth to twelfth dynasties.
The face of the second cliff contains rock-cut tombs of the sixth dynasty. Four of these have
scanty inscriptions and reliefs but without any great interest or beauty.
The alluvial mound between the limestone hill and the third ravine (mentioned above) forms
cemetery the north bank of the mouth of the ravine. The part nearer the cultivation contains a cemetery
and 700 °f the second and third dynasties; the middle part, a cemetery of the third and fourth dy-
nasties, and the upper part a cemetery of the fifth and sixth dynasties.
cemetery The south bank of the third ravine is also an alluvial deposit, about twenty meters wide.
Nearer the cultivation, this deposit contains pit tombs of the twelfth dynasty and on the edges
chambered tombs of the tenth to eleventh dynasties. The upper part contains the predynastic
cemetery (Cem. 7000).
Beyond the third ravine are rock-cut tombs in the face of the cliff all completely plun-
dered. In front of this cliff lies the village of Naga-ed-Der. And to the south of the village
lies the present day cemetery of the Coptic population of Girga.
The work of clearing the south side of the first ravine and the slope between the first
and the second ravines has been carried on by Mr. Mace. The work on the field between
the second and the third ravines has been carried on by myself. And the work south of the
third has been in charge of Mr. Lythgoe. The results obtained from these different cemeteries
I. The Cemeteries of Naga-ed-der.
The bottom of the face of the higher cliff is about forty meters from the top of the face of
the lower cliff and is separated from it by a steep slope. From the base of the lower cliff, a
low limestone shelf slopes out to the cultivation, about one hundred meters away. The surface
of this shelf is covered with a thin layer of gravel and its edge is concealed by a low alluvial
strip about ten to twenty meters wide, composed of strata of sand, gravel and black soil. On
the south, this shelf rises to a low limestone hill (marked + on Pl. 3 b) separated from the
third ravine by a broad low mound of alluvial deposits. The shelf and its alluvial border are
furrowed by three slight water channels and thus divided into four irregular tongues of desert-
land (see Frontispiece and Pl. 2). The alluvial deposit at the tip of the first tongue south of
the second ravine is occupied by a cemetery of the first and second dynasties (Frontispiece
cemetery and Pl. 2, i, being Cem. 3000). The base of the second tongue tip (marked 2 on Frontispiece
3000
and Pl. 2) is occupied by a tomb complex of the fourth or fifth dynasty; the tip has been
cut away by modern quarrymen cutting limestone for lime-burning. The shelf behind
cemetery these two tips is continuous and bears a field of small mastabas (Pl. 57a, fore ground) of the
'^I0° sixth to eighth dynasties together with some New Empire pitsl The third tip (marked 3 on
Frontispiece and Pl. 2) lies further back than the others, as its alluvial deposit has been cut away
cemetery by natural forces. Its slope contains a cemetery of the sixth to eighth dynasties with a few
later pits (20th). The fourth tip (marked 4 on Frontispiece and Pl. 2), which in fact clothes the
cemetery base of the limestone hill (marked + on Pl. 3 b) on the south of the shelf, contains a cemetery
1500
of the first and second dynasties (Cemetery 1500). The limestone hill itself contains rock-cut
tombs and brick mastabas of the twelfth to twentieth dynasties.
The face of the first, or lower, cliff behind the limestone shelf described above, contains
cemetery plundered rock cut tombs without incriptions. The slope from the top of the first cliff to
the base of the second contains chambered tombs and pits of the sixth to twelfth dynasties.
The face of the second cliff contains rock-cut tombs of the sixth dynasty. Four of these have
scanty inscriptions and reliefs but without any great interest or beauty.
The alluvial mound between the limestone hill and the third ravine (mentioned above) forms
cemetery the north bank of the mouth of the ravine. The part nearer the cultivation contains a cemetery
and 700 °f the second and third dynasties; the middle part, a cemetery of the third and fourth dy-
nasties, and the upper part a cemetery of the fifth and sixth dynasties.
cemetery The south bank of the third ravine is also an alluvial deposit, about twenty meters wide.
Nearer the cultivation, this deposit contains pit tombs of the twelfth dynasty and on the edges
chambered tombs of the tenth to eleventh dynasties. The upper part contains the predynastic
cemetery (Cem. 7000).
Beyond the third ravine are rock-cut tombs in the face of the cliff all completely plun-
dered. In front of this cliff lies the village of Naga-ed-Der. And to the south of the village
lies the present day cemetery of the Coptic population of Girga.
The work of clearing the south side of the first ravine and the slope between the first
and the second ravines has been carried on by Mr. Mace. The work on the field between
the second and the third ravines has been carried on by myself. And the work south of the
third has been in charge of Mr. Lythgoe. The results obtained from these different cemeteries