Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

SAQQARA

EGYPT

terious chamber, possibly built with the
aim of misleading potential robbers
searching for a royal tomb, had long been
used as a cult place, probably connected
with a monumental tomb which should be
expected in the close vicinity of this
"chapel", possibly to the south of it.
Remains of various structures discovered
on the surface of the rock south of the
unfinished 'tomb' and beside the passage are
witness to intensive building activities in
this area during the Old Kingdom. The
following phases have been distinguished
[cf. Fig. 9}.
a) Construction of the quasi-tomb (Second
Dynasty/early Third Dynasty). The rock
surface around the passage is covered
with c. 4 m of black/grayish mud mortar
mixed with many small stones, both
desert pebbles and fragments of white
limestone (chips ol limestone blocks
similar to those used in the construction
of the pyramid's enclosure wall?), as well
as small pottery sherds. Visually, it has
a mosaic-like structure. This layer does
not lie directly on the rock surface, but
on a leveling layer of yellow sand (up to
4 cm thick) containing similar chips
although of smaller size. The "mosaic"
layer is visible on both sides of the rock-
hewn corridor.
b) A layer of black/grayish mud with but
very few inclusions and very smooth
surface, originally whitewashed
(surviving in a few places), found c. 2 cm
above the first stratum. It testifies to
alterations, perhaps repairs or a continu-
ation of building activities in this area
some time after the construction of the
'tomb'. This stratum contains almost no
pottery. The chronological span between
this and the lowest stratum is minimal;
perhaps both are elements of the same
construction. Only a part of this stratum

was revealed east of the corridor, but it
appears to have existed also on the other
side, where it can be seen in the section,
c) The next level of occupation lay c. 20 cm
higher (level with stones at the mouth of
the passage). It has a less regular, but
discernible surface of grey/yellowish
dakka with many small desert pebbles
and white limestone chips,
d-e) Leveling wall of flat irregular tafl
blocks of local limestone, raised along
the upper edges of the corridor, dou-
btless in order to reinforce and protect it,
visibly in two phases. In the south-
eastern corner of this wall, there are
some tafl bricks preserved at the top
of this construction and doubtless
belonging to the later phase. As this


Fig. 8. Entrance to the unfinished Early
Dynastic/Early 3rd Dynasty tomb at the
end of the sloping corridor, during
exploration (Photo J. Dabrowski)

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