Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

WEST SAQQARA

EGYPT

background. The polychromy is preserved,
at least partly, on coffins nos. 269, 295,
335, 336, 340 and 341. In one case (no.
295),3) the outside of the case bottom is
decorated. The inscriptions usually contain
the epithets of Osiris or other gods and the
name of the owner, but the lower end,
where the name of the deceased should
occur, has been destroyed in this case;
c) oval coffins made of poorly fired clay
(red surface and thick black core). The flat
lids are decorated with a human face
molded in relief. A pair of such coffins,
containing mummified remains (burials
345 and 346), was found in square 1714
(Fig. 7).

Some mummies, found either in coffins
or directly in the sand, were furnished with
a cartonnage, of which only scant remains
are usually preserved. Three of the nine
cartonnage cases identified this year were
found inside coffins. The best preserved
cartonnage comes from an anthropoid
wooden coffin no. 269- Some skeletons
found lying in the sand still had gilded
covers of eye sockets and remains of blue
paint on the gypsum over their heads.
The position of the mummified bodies
varies. Three variants occur repeatedly:
hands crossed on the chest (like Osiris);
hands resting on the pelvis; and hands
extended laterally alongside the body. One


Fig. 8. Skeleton in a wooden coffin — burial 331 — from the Late Necropolis
(Photo W. Jerke)

3) Cf. report by Z. Godziejewski in this volume, esp. Fig. 2 on p. 131-

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