Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (12.2000(2001))

DEIR EL-BAHARI

EGYPT

form of a deep niche, which is very similar
in shape and size to the chimney of the
Royal Cache. At the entrance to it,
Butehamun had scratched his names twice
on a very high level, which today is
situated 4 m above ground level. The

graffiti were made evidently from a layer of
debris or a narrow rock-shelf that was later
removed. The similarity to the Royal
Cache site is striking, providing an
indirect suggestion of a tomb being
present somewhere in the close vicinity.

GRAFFITI SURVEY
by Slawomir Rzepka

During the season the mission continued
documentation of graffiti preserved on the
rocks surrounding the temple of
Hatshepsut. The area under consideration
was divided into 8 sections: A-G (Fig. 8),
of which B, C, D, E, F had been completed
last year and the southern part of section A,
in the “chimney” (vertical shaft leading to
the upper parts of our area) and its vicinity,
was started.

This year we concentrated on 3 areas,
documenting altogether more than 60
graffiti:
1) in the central and northern part of section
A (continuation of previous work);
2) on the rocks directly above the western
part of the temple of Hatshepsut
(section G);
3) in the area north of the temple of
Hatshepsut (section H and H1).


Fig. 8. General view of the surveyed area, divided into sections A-H
(Photo A. Niwinski)

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