Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

_WEST SAQQARA_

EGYPT

the same time (or shortly after) the execution
of the rock facade of the cult chamber. It
seems that they existed until the end of the
Old Kingdom and perhaps their upper part,
especially in the eastern area, was still visible
above the sand (layer 2, Pig. 2:2) in the times
of Alexander the Great.
LAYERS 7-5
The stratigraphical sequences, mudbrick
structure (pig. 2:5) and the objects associat-
ed with it provide the most reliable basis for
dating these layers to the 6th dynasty.
Layers in the eastern part of section N
(Area I/F SQ’98) correspond to accumulations
resulting from human activity both during
the construction of the tomb complex of
vizier Meref-nebef and in the succeeding peri-
od. The material from layer 10 is not attested
in deposits from this part of the section.
LAYERS 17 and 16
The accumulation comes from layers accu-
mulated upon the rock terrace, above the
tomb of the vizier (layers 9 and 8). Nile
silt, resulting perhaps from mudbrick
building activity, and occasional Old
Kingdom sherds overlie layer 16.
LAYER 15
Windblown sand which had accumulated
on the slope. The layer also extends to the
north.131
LAYER 14
Large angular rock fragments in the east-
ern part of the stratum, numerous mud-

bricks, whole and fragmentary, and the
presence of a weathering-soil horizon char-
acterize this layer. Blue faience plaques,
small rock fragments, sherds of late Old
Kingdom pottery, animal and human
bones are in evidence. The layer corre-
sponds to layers 3, 3a and 3b identified in
Section N - Saqqara 1997.141
LAYER 3
The layer covers stratum 14, layers 13-12
and the mudbrick structure (5) on top of
the deposits in the eastern part of the sec-
tion. There is no gap (i.e., layer 13 espe-
cially) between this deposit and stratum 14
in some places of the excavated site. The
horizon of stratum 3, sometimes identical
(and contemporary) with that of stratum
14, forms an occupational level (called in
Arabic daka) consisting of weathering-soil
with blue faience plaques, small rock frag-
ments, sherds of late Old Kingdom pot-
tery, animal bones, charcoal and organic
material. This is the stratum of destruction
of the Old Kingdom structures in the exca-
vation area.13 14 15 16 * 18)
LAYER 2
The stratum consists of two phases of
sandy deposits, corresponding to layers 4a
and 6 from Section N - Saqqara 1997.161 At
the bottom of this stratum, the sand car-
ried by floodwater forms a horizontal strat-
ification.171 The chronology is confirmed
additionally by massive Nile flooding
dated to 1850-1550 BC.181

13) After analysis by E. Mycielska-Dowgiallo and B. Woronko.
14) Cf. Mycielska-Dowgiatlo and Woronko, PAM IX, op. cit., pp. 107-108, fig. 1.
15) This stratum (corresponding to layer 3c in Section N-Saqqara 1997) should be dated to the times before ca. 2050 BC,
cf. ibid., pp. 107-108, 115.
16) Cf. ibid., pp. 108-109, fig. 1.
17) Cf. ibid., p. 109 - layer 4a.
18) Cf. Z.E. Szafranski, Patterns of Settlement Life in Egypt in the First Half of the Second Millennium BC, Excursus in
Part Two, in print.

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