DOI Heft:
Egypt
DOI Artikel:Welc, Fabian: Exploration of an archaic (?) funerary structure in sector 2002
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42091#0185
SAQQARA
EGYPT
pugging, which was in fact a primitive kind
of floor (layer 3 in the section). This
structure was undoubtedly later compared
to the primeval rock-cut corridor, as the
blocks and pugging reach the side walls of
the corridor, but are not connected with
them [Fig. 6], It definitely reduced the
entrance, but at the same time facilitated
access to the space behind it. This specific
form of "threshold" was also noted in front
of the entrance where it served to cover up
and level the oblique hollow cut originally
at the bottom of the sloping passage. The
floor rested on big fragments of tafl
limestone mixed with sand, limestone
powder and insignificant quantities of pot-
tery (layer 4 in the section).
Fill structure inside the chamber, 2.20 m
further to the south, was largely unchanged
as regards the stratigraphy. The upper part
yielded intact and fragmentary beer jars
mixed with tafl and limestone debris.
Underlying this was a layer of loose sand,
tafl, limestone, potsherds and loose stones
[Fig. 71
The above stratigraphic analysis of the
fill leads to some conclusions concerning
the phases of functioning of the feature
from square 2002. The complex as a whole,
comprising passage, entrance and corridor
with sloping ceiling, remained out in the
open for a relatively long time, threatened
constantly by changing weather condi-
tions, including rainfall which led to the
accumulation of the deposit in front of the
entrance and inside it. This process can be
seen as taking place already in the late Old
Kingdom, considering that the pottery
found on top of the fill originates from this
period.9 Once the entrance had been
blocked with accumulated debris, large
quantities of offering pottery, mostly beer
jars, appear to have been deposited nearby,
forming in the end effect an extensive
pottery deposit more than half a meter
thick.10 The big limestone-/*?// blocks with
traces of red paint found in the surface
layer of the baulk, may have come from the
stone structure discovered to the south of
the described feature.11 Their presence in
the fill should perhaps be linked with the
last chronological phase corresponding
most likely to the devastation of the
necropolis at the very end of the 6th
Dynasty and in the First Intermediate
Period.12
9 Although it is not to be excluded chat some possibly ritual intentional activities took place here even before the late
Old Kingdom period, as indicated by the white-washed mud floors in the immediate neighborhood of the tomb, see
K. Mysliwiec, in this volume.
10 See contribution of T.I. Rzeuska in this volume.
11 See K. Mysliwiec, report in this volume.
12 K. Mysliwiec et al., The Tomb of Merefnebef, op. cit., 39.
181
EGYPT
pugging, which was in fact a primitive kind
of floor (layer 3 in the section). This
structure was undoubtedly later compared
to the primeval rock-cut corridor, as the
blocks and pugging reach the side walls of
the corridor, but are not connected with
them [Fig. 6], It definitely reduced the
entrance, but at the same time facilitated
access to the space behind it. This specific
form of "threshold" was also noted in front
of the entrance where it served to cover up
and level the oblique hollow cut originally
at the bottom of the sloping passage. The
floor rested on big fragments of tafl
limestone mixed with sand, limestone
powder and insignificant quantities of pot-
tery (layer 4 in the section).
Fill structure inside the chamber, 2.20 m
further to the south, was largely unchanged
as regards the stratigraphy. The upper part
yielded intact and fragmentary beer jars
mixed with tafl and limestone debris.
Underlying this was a layer of loose sand,
tafl, limestone, potsherds and loose stones
[Fig. 71
The above stratigraphic analysis of the
fill leads to some conclusions concerning
the phases of functioning of the feature
from square 2002. The complex as a whole,
comprising passage, entrance and corridor
with sloping ceiling, remained out in the
open for a relatively long time, threatened
constantly by changing weather condi-
tions, including rainfall which led to the
accumulation of the deposit in front of the
entrance and inside it. This process can be
seen as taking place already in the late Old
Kingdom, considering that the pottery
found on top of the fill originates from this
period.9 Once the entrance had been
blocked with accumulated debris, large
quantities of offering pottery, mostly beer
jars, appear to have been deposited nearby,
forming in the end effect an extensive
pottery deposit more than half a meter
thick.10 The big limestone-/*?// blocks with
traces of red paint found in the surface
layer of the baulk, may have come from the
stone structure discovered to the south of
the described feature.11 Their presence in
the fill should perhaps be linked with the
last chronological phase corresponding
most likely to the devastation of the
necropolis at the very end of the 6th
Dynasty and in the First Intermediate
Period.12
9 Although it is not to be excluded chat some possibly ritual intentional activities took place here even before the late
Old Kingdom period, as indicated by the white-washed mud floors in the immediate neighborhood of the tomb, see
K. Mysliwiec, in this volume.
10 See contribution of T.I. Rzeuska in this volume.
11 See K. Mysliwiec, report in this volume.
12 K. Mysliwiec et al., The Tomb of Merefnebef, op. cit., 39.
181