Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

above the edge of the removed shelf. Three
of Butehamun's graffiti (nos. 3-5) were left
in the area, and, finally, a robbers' shaft
(no. 1) had been executed nearby.
The excavations were encumbered by
the need to remove stones, some of
considerable size (the biggest one
measuring 2.5 x 2 x 4 m), which had fallen
from the cliff face. Ancient limestone chips,
obviously manmade, found in the area,
corroborate the hypothesis of a tomb being
located somewhere in the vicinity (see
excursus below by the geologist associated
with the expedition).
While no entrance to the alleged tomb
has been found as yet, its existence should
by no means be excluded. It may be located
somewhere in the bordering area, just to the
east of the investigated sector, under or


Fig. 4. “Technical” graffito found on stone 3
(Drawing K. Tempczyk)

slightly to the east of the stones £ and or
else just to the south, under stones /3-y,
which make it inaccessible at present.
Under stone 3, an unfinished robbery shaft
was discovered, its entrance concealed with
a big flat stone and a considerable
accumulation of debris. It is not to be
excluded however, that this ancient robbery
shaft was used in modern times as a cache
(by a robber?), since a piece of glass was
found inside it.
A graffito was discovered on the
southern surface of stone 3. It seems to
represent the plan of a tomb, with a vertical
shaft on the right and a horizontal gallery
going west (Fig. 4). The graffito is no doubt
ancient in date. Perhaps it can be related in
some extent to the aforementioned robbery
shaft.


Fig. 5. View of Sector D from the east. On the
left, boulder a (Photo A. Niwihski)

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