Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

SAQQARA

EGYPT

with a few small fragments of beer jars.
A ceramic deposit (3/2004), the fifth to
come from a so-called 'false shaft1 in this
necropolis, was found at the bottom.9 Alto-
gether, it consisted of 27 vessels represent-
ing four types: carinated bowls with spout
rim, plates with inner rim, large bowls and
Medum bowls. All the vases were shattered,
but restorable and all were found to be
more or less complete. The fabric was Nile
silt B1 or B2, red-slipped. The pottery ap-
pears to be very homogeneous with little
variety of shape and execution, suggesting
that all the vessels originated from the same
workshop and may have even been produced
all at the same time [Fig. 7]. Other finds
from the shaft included numerous frag-

ments of textiles, animal bone(s), charcoal,
miniature beer jars (?) and unidentified or-
ganic remains. Like other deposits from
ritual shafts, this assemblage should be inter-
preted as the remnants of a banquet held
during the funeral. It probably represents
the ritual of breaking red vessels.
FUNERARY SHAFT 59
Shaft 59 in front of the entrance to cult
chapel 1710 formed one funerary complex
with it. The upper part of the fill was of
secondary character — sand mixed with lime-
stone chips and small sherds — but the lower
part and burial chamber contained the
standard and apparently original limestone
chip fill. A base count set the number of


Fig. 7. Pottery deposit (3/2004) found in ritual shaft 49
(Photo M. Jawornicki)

9 T. I. Rzeuska, "The Necropolis at West Saqqara: The Late Old Kingdom shafts with no burial chamber. Were they false,
dummy, unfinished or intentional?", AO 70/3, 377-402; id., 'Pottery 2003", PAM XV/ Reports 2003 (2004), 138, Fig. 6.
10 K. Mysliwiec, "West Saqqara, Archaeological Activities, 2003", PAM XV, op. cit., 112-114, Fig. 1

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