Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

In the course of a reconnaissance in the
area around the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari, an
unexpected discovery was made in the
nearby valley of the Royal Cache. In the.
chimney above the shaft, the author came
across a hitherto unpublished and unknown
hieratic graffito, apparently belonging to
the famous Royal Scribe of the Necropolis
Butehamun and his son Ankhefenamun
(11th cent. BC) {Fig. 7). The style of the
graffito and its unique setting are both
outstanding. The inscription is distin-
guished by its monumental appearance — it
is 65 cm long and 53-5 cm high, and is
situated on the western wall of the chimney,
which itself measures some 3.5 x 3.5 x 8.5
m. The first two letters in the name of
Butehamun: sS and b, are 21 cm high each.
This is by far the largest graffito of this type
in the neighborhood.

Another striking feature is the position
of the inscription some 4.85 m above the
shaft of the tomb, in a place reached
nowadays only with the aid of special
climbing equipment. The question, of
course, is how did Butehamun and his son
reach the place. A study of the rock face in
the chimney revealed a thick layer of debris,
left untouched since ancient times, in the
northwestern corner of the chimney. Its
upper ridge reaches up to 4 m above the
shaft (i.e., 1 m below the newly found insc-
ription). It is from this level that Butehamun
and his son had scratched their names.
To conclude, observations made in the
chimney of the Royal Cache might have far
reaching implications for the history of the
site. The closest parallel is provided by
sections C-D of the Deir el-Bahari rock-
shelf. Its northwestern corner takes on the


Fig. 7. Graffito of Butehamun found above the Royal Cache in Deir el-Bahari south
(Drawing M. Budzanowski)

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