DOI issue:
Egypt
DOI article:Cwiek, Andrzej: The stratigraphy of West Saqqara
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41274#0115
WEST SAQQARA
EGYPT
The growing density of the structures
on this necropolis is further evidence for its
long use. This is clearly visible in the case
of Chapel 4, which was cut into the south-
west corner of the mastaba of Pehi, as well
as Chapel 2, the eastern wall of which was
added to the west side of the mastaba of
Pehenptah (the latter wall being inclined
towards the center of the building) with an
entrance — the only possible means of
access - located in the far north end of the
chapel.
The relative dating of selected struc-
tures in Area I/H-I/I is presented in the
form of a Harris matrix (Fig. 2).
III. DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD
KINGDOM STRUCTURES
A stratum of anthropogenic destruction of
the Old Kingdom structures (e.g. brick
robbing), and possibly also plundering of
the burial shafts, as well as natural erosion
processes, is clearly distinguished over
a large part of the site. It consists of layers
- in various proportions - of angular frag-
ments of limestone, small limestone chips,
tafl, numerous tafl-brick and mudbrick
fragments, pottery sherds, faience plaques,
bones, and organic material. The upper
surface of this stratum created a weather-
ing-soil horizon, as it was an occupational
level, and was occasionally covered with
mud floors (Fig. 3- 9-12). This phase can
be dated tentatively to the later part of the
First Intermediate Period. The layers over-
lying this stratum are for the most part
huge deposits of aeolian sand, with traces
of rainfall (Fig. 3: 4-7).n) The phase is very
clearly visible also in the evidence of accu-
mulation layers recorded in front of Meref-
nebefs chapel: a deposit of tafl and lime-
stone fragments on the floor of the lower
Fig. 2. Stratigraphic sequence of selected structures in Area I/H-I/I: 1. Brick platform; 2.
Chapel 4; 3■ Chapel 3; 4- Shaft 2; 3. Shaft 23; 6. Chapel 2; 7. Shaft 39; 8. Shaft
40; 9. Shaft 29; 10. Shaft 32; 11-14. Mastaba of Pehenptah/Pehi (chapel 3, shafts:
26, 31, 34) (Interpretation A. Cwiek)
u> On the relations of these layers to climatic changes, cf. Mycielska-Dowgiallo, Woronko,'PAM X, Reports 1998, op. cit;
Mycielska-Dowgiatto, Szafrahski, Woronko, op. cit., 177-8.
113
EGYPT
The growing density of the structures
on this necropolis is further evidence for its
long use. This is clearly visible in the case
of Chapel 4, which was cut into the south-
west corner of the mastaba of Pehi, as well
as Chapel 2, the eastern wall of which was
added to the west side of the mastaba of
Pehenptah (the latter wall being inclined
towards the center of the building) with an
entrance — the only possible means of
access - located in the far north end of the
chapel.
The relative dating of selected struc-
tures in Area I/H-I/I is presented in the
form of a Harris matrix (Fig. 2).
III. DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD
KINGDOM STRUCTURES
A stratum of anthropogenic destruction of
the Old Kingdom structures (e.g. brick
robbing), and possibly also plundering of
the burial shafts, as well as natural erosion
processes, is clearly distinguished over
a large part of the site. It consists of layers
- in various proportions - of angular frag-
ments of limestone, small limestone chips,
tafl, numerous tafl-brick and mudbrick
fragments, pottery sherds, faience plaques,
bones, and organic material. The upper
surface of this stratum created a weather-
ing-soil horizon, as it was an occupational
level, and was occasionally covered with
mud floors (Fig. 3- 9-12). This phase can
be dated tentatively to the later part of the
First Intermediate Period. The layers over-
lying this stratum are for the most part
huge deposits of aeolian sand, with traces
of rainfall (Fig. 3: 4-7).n) The phase is very
clearly visible also in the evidence of accu-
mulation layers recorded in front of Meref-
nebefs chapel: a deposit of tafl and lime-
stone fragments on the floor of the lower
Fig. 2. Stratigraphic sequence of selected structures in Area I/H-I/I: 1. Brick platform; 2.
Chapel 4; 3■ Chapel 3; 4- Shaft 2; 3. Shaft 23; 6. Chapel 2; 7. Shaft 39; 8. Shaft
40; 9. Shaft 29; 10. Shaft 32; 11-14. Mastaba of Pehenptah/Pehi (chapel 3, shafts:
26, 31, 34) (Interpretation A. Cwiek)
u> On the relations of these layers to climatic changes, cf. Mycielska-Dowgiallo, Woronko,'PAM X, Reports 1998, op. cit;
Mycielska-Dowgiatto, Szafrahski, Woronko, op. cit., 177-8.
113