Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

SAQQARA

EGYPT

Dynasty or the very beginning of the Third
Dynasty [cf. Fig. 7].‘s Its longitudinal shape,
size and N-S orientation is reminiscent of
Second Dynasty royal tombs found in
Saqqara, south of the Netjerykhet pyramid
enclosure,9 or early Third Dynasty tombs of
the highest noblemen in Saqqara.10 The
northern, open part of the structure
comprises a rock-hewn passage with steeply
sloping floor, descending southwards, partly
under the mud-brick platform. It starts in
the north more or less at the southern edge
of the later (Sixth Dynasty) Shaft 69, the
location and orientation of which probably
complied with the existing passage. It is
a maximum 1.86 m wide and runs for
6.42 m (measured along the upper edge)
before reaching a dead end. This E-W wall
is cut straight down into the rock, ending
with a rectangular entrance at the bottom,
4.76-5.00 m (east and west side re-
spectively) from the top [Figs 8,9}. All sides
of the passage are weathered, although the
local limestone structure here is stronger
than in the case of many other rock-hewn
tombs in this part of Saqqara.
All four upper edges of the corridor were
reinforced and leveled with series of
irregular, flat stones, never higher than 1 m
despite varying height and outside extent.
Parts have been destroyed completely, most
frequently by later Old Kingdom structures
(Sixth Dynasty shafts and chapels).
Reparations with mud bricks are observable
in places, e.g. in the southeastern corner of
the passage {cf. Fig. 6}.

The bottom of the passage slopes at
a very sharp angle (about 41°), which
contrasts with the gentle ramps leading to
entrances in rock-hewn royal tombs of the
early Second Dynasty.11 Therefore, a date
toward the end of this Dynasty or at the
beginning of the next seems more plausible
in this case, although it cannot be excluded
that other circumstances, like different
function, actually dictated the steepness.
The passage ends sharply 1.61 m before the
entrance to a subterranean room. The
horizontal floor at the southern end breaks
off diagonally and beyond the break there is
a hollow, c. 0.41 m deep, extending from
one wall to the other, measuring 0.52 m
N-S along the east wall and 0.93 m along
the west one. Its function is not clear, but it
may have been intended originally as a slot
for a huge slab blocking the entrance. The
south side of the hollow is at the same time
the threshold of the rectangular entrance
described above. The entrance is as wide as
the passage and 1.80 m high, and framed
with a slightly projecting profile, 0.09-
0.10 m wide. It leads to a chamber with
sloping floor and gradually descending
ceiling, which meet at floor level a respective
2.58 to 2.20 m, measured on the east and
west sides, further to the south [Fig. 11}.
The fill of this "chamber", which
practically reached the ceiling [Fig. 10},
contained pottery used for ritual purposes.12
Many vessels, particularly those found on
the surface, were intact, preserving the
original contents. It proves that the mys-

8 K. Mysliwiec, PAM XVI, Reports 2004 (2005) 152; id., "Eine geheimnisvolle Rampe und Plactform an der Westseite
der Pyramide des Djoser", Sokar 11 (Berlin 2005), 6-7; id., "Fragen an eine Nekropole, Sokar 13, 14-16.
9 G. Dreyer, "The Tombs of the First and Second Dynasties at Abydos and Saqqara", in: Z. Hawass, ed., The Treasures of
the Pyramids (Vercelli 2003), 74-75.
10 E.g. that of Hesire: H. Altenmiiller, "Grab", LA II (1977), 829.
11 Dreyer, op. cit., 75 (Drawing E).
12 Cf. reports by F. Welc and T.I. Rzeuska in the present volume.

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