DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.50107#0021
EXCAVATION OF CEM. N 500-900
MR. J. E. QUIBELL, Inspector-in-Chief of the Department of Antiquities, called my attention
to the site at Naga-’d-Der, opposite Girga. He had found plundering going on for the profit
of a certain rich man of the town of Girga. I applied for a concession which was granted in October,
1900. On November 1st, I sent three of our Quftis, Amr Alean, Mohammed Eed, and Ahmed al-Gamid,
to guard the site until our arrival.
January 27th, 1901. Sunday. In the evening I sent two boat-loads of workmen from the camp at
Der-el-Ballas by river down stream to Girga. That night there came on the ‘great rain’ which lasted
until about 3 a.m. of Tuesday January 29th. Mr. A. M. Lythgoe, Mrs. Reisner, and I found the roofs
leaking at the Der-el-Ballas camp. Two tents had been set up beside the camp for inspection previous
to use at Naga-’d-Der. We took refuge in them, for the night of Monday.
January 2<yth, 1901. Tuesday. The two boat-loads of men arrived at Naga-’d-Der.
January 30th, 1901. Wednesday. Mahmud Ahmed Said, el-Meyyit, with tents and other equipment,
left by train for Naga-’d-Der, where he arrived that evening.
January 31s/, 1901. Thursday. Mrs. Reisner and I left Keft by train for Luxor, where we stayed at
the old Luxor Hotel for two days. At Naga-’d-Der, el-Meyyit set up tents and began a superficial
examination of the cliffs, the slopes, and terraces. This went on until our arrival on Saturday.
February 2nd, 1901. Saturday. Mrs. Reisner and I travelled by train from Luxor to Girga. El-
Meyyit and several of the men met us. We ferried the river to Naga-’d-Der and rode donkeys from the
river bank to the camp, where we arrived about 9.30 p.m. Bright moonlight; high zigzag cliffs broken
by wild clefts; low foot-hills, slopes, and terraces clear in the white light. Passed under the terrace later
numbered N 1500 and wondered what it held for us (see Naga-d-Der, I). Found our tents set up on
the low ground between wadys Nos. 2 and 3. Not well pleased with the site of the camp. The men in
shelters built in the ravine No. 2.
February 3rd, 1901. Sunday. (1) Selected a site for permanent camp—the lower part of the slope
of detritus which covered the base of the cliff of rock-cut tombs (see Naga-d-Der, I, Frontispiece)
between ravine No. 2 and the hill north of ravine No. 3. Had men terrace out a level place above the
site selected for permanent camp and transferred the tents to this place. Had men terrace out a long
level place for camp-hut. Built kitchen in old rock-tomb the roof of which was broken down. Set men
to work making mud bricks for camp-hut.
(2) Inspected site with el-Meyyit who explained his examinations. In the cliffs from wady No. 3
north-eastwards as far as the ‘Sheikh’ above the river and beyond, rock-cut tombs of Dyn. VI-XH, all
previously plundered and covered with broken stone. See Naga-d-Der, I, pl. 79, map iv. The unknown
quantity lay in the slopes and terraces between ravines Nos. 2 and 3. Resolved to make a preliminary
examination of these slopes and terraces.
(3) Divided workmen into eleven gangs each under a foreman. Assigned to these gangs points of
attack for next day. Had boys collect suitable fragments of limestone for numbering graves.
February yth, 1901. Monday. (1) Drew one man from each gang (total n men) for camp con-
struction.
MR. J. E. QUIBELL, Inspector-in-Chief of the Department of Antiquities, called my attention
to the site at Naga-’d-Der, opposite Girga. He had found plundering going on for the profit
of a certain rich man of the town of Girga. I applied for a concession which was granted in October,
1900. On November 1st, I sent three of our Quftis, Amr Alean, Mohammed Eed, and Ahmed al-Gamid,
to guard the site until our arrival.
January 27th, 1901. Sunday. In the evening I sent two boat-loads of workmen from the camp at
Der-el-Ballas by river down stream to Girga. That night there came on the ‘great rain’ which lasted
until about 3 a.m. of Tuesday January 29th. Mr. A. M. Lythgoe, Mrs. Reisner, and I found the roofs
leaking at the Der-el-Ballas camp. Two tents had been set up beside the camp for inspection previous
to use at Naga-’d-Der. We took refuge in them, for the night of Monday.
January 2<yth, 1901. Tuesday. The two boat-loads of men arrived at Naga-’d-Der.
January 30th, 1901. Wednesday. Mahmud Ahmed Said, el-Meyyit, with tents and other equipment,
left by train for Naga-’d-Der, where he arrived that evening.
January 31s/, 1901. Thursday. Mrs. Reisner and I left Keft by train for Luxor, where we stayed at
the old Luxor Hotel for two days. At Naga-’d-Der, el-Meyyit set up tents and began a superficial
examination of the cliffs, the slopes, and terraces. This went on until our arrival on Saturday.
February 2nd, 1901. Saturday. Mrs. Reisner and I travelled by train from Luxor to Girga. El-
Meyyit and several of the men met us. We ferried the river to Naga-’d-Der and rode donkeys from the
river bank to the camp, where we arrived about 9.30 p.m. Bright moonlight; high zigzag cliffs broken
by wild clefts; low foot-hills, slopes, and terraces clear in the white light. Passed under the terrace later
numbered N 1500 and wondered what it held for us (see Naga-d-Der, I). Found our tents set up on
the low ground between wadys Nos. 2 and 3. Not well pleased with the site of the camp. The men in
shelters built in the ravine No. 2.
February 3rd, 1901. Sunday. (1) Selected a site for permanent camp—the lower part of the slope
of detritus which covered the base of the cliff of rock-cut tombs (see Naga-d-Der, I, Frontispiece)
between ravine No. 2 and the hill north of ravine No. 3. Had men terrace out a level place above the
site selected for permanent camp and transferred the tents to this place. Had men terrace out a long
level place for camp-hut. Built kitchen in old rock-tomb the roof of which was broken down. Set men
to work making mud bricks for camp-hut.
(2) Inspected site with el-Meyyit who explained his examinations. In the cliffs from wady No. 3
north-eastwards as far as the ‘Sheikh’ above the river and beyond, rock-cut tombs of Dyn. VI-XH, all
previously plundered and covered with broken stone. See Naga-d-Der, I, pl. 79, map iv. The unknown
quantity lay in the slopes and terraces between ravines Nos. 2 and 3. Resolved to make a preliminary
examination of these slopes and terraces.
(3) Divided workmen into eleven gangs each under a foreman. Assigned to these gangs points of
attack for next day. Had boys collect suitable fragments of limestone for numbering graves.
February yth, 1901. Monday. (1) Drew one man from each gang (total n men) for camp con-
struction.