Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

_WEST SAQQARA_

EGYPT

The extension of this gravel layer visi-
ble also in the cross-section in line with
Shaft 1 {Figs. 2, 6), refers to layer No. 1
spread horizontally over the rock surface
and identified in 1997 as the oldest deposit
series on the examined slope.2) Beside cal-
careous debris, this layer also yielded flint
and quartz pebbles, as well as single gran-
ite grains. The data on the size and the
longer-axis orientation of pebbles indicates
that the gravel was transported by episod-
ic rain water characterized by high dynam-
ics, flowing downhill, and concentrating in
a stream on the rock shelf (of Shaft 1). The
origin of the well-rounded gravel is unclear
{Fig. 7).


Fig. 8. Diagram, of laminae inclination in
deposits adjacent to the rock wall in
line with the entrance to the vizier's
tomb (Fig. 1,3): A - of debris deposits
in Section N; B - of debris deposits
with single pieces of mudbrick in resid-
ual form

It is currently difficult to say whether it
had been brought to the site intentionally,
at the time that the Djeser pyramid was
under construction, and was later spread
out all over the terrace by rains or whether
it had had a natural source which it is
impossible to identify today.
The rock shelf with its thin gravel and
pebbles layer is situated at 50.4 m above
the sea level, that is, about 4 m above the
modern bottom level of the vast depression
extending west of the site. It cannot be
excluded that it is a surviving fragment of
an erosion-accumulation terrace of a valley
that followed the same line as the modern
depression. At one point below the gravel
layer, a lenticle of strongly limy yellow
sand was found well preserved (Fig. 5).
Examination of quartz grains under an
optical microscope revealed the predomi-
nance of shiny grains, with slight encrust-
ing and poor frosting, visible only on the
ridges and corners. The quartz grain analy-
sis in the electron microscope (SEM) con-
firmed these findings. A great part of the
grains (43%) shows a microrelief typical of
an aquatic environment characterized by
high energy, an environment of the beach
type3-1 with traces of secondary encrusting.
Only on 2% of the grains a distinct aeolian
relief was observed. On 55% of the grains
aeolian processes were marked as a delicate
touch-up on the ridges and corners of
grains bearing an earlier relief typical of
a high-energy aquatic environment. The
character of the grain surface points to the
absence of intensive and long-lasting aeo-
lian processes. It may be concluded that
the examined sandy deposit originates
from the re-deposition of Tertiary marine

2) Ibid., fig. 1
Id., Analiza obtoczenia i zmatowienia powierzchni ziaren kwarcowych frakcji piaszczystej i jej wartosc interpretacyjna,
Przegl. Geol. 46 (1998), p. 12.

110