Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

SAQQARA

EGYPT

SOME REMARKS ON THE WESTERN MASSIF
IN THE STEP PYRAMID COMPLEX

Teodozja I. Rzeuska, Fabian Welc

The Polish excavation in Saqqara abuts the
western side of the enclosure wall surrounding
the funerary complex of the pharaoh
Netjerykhet. A section of this wall and its
foundation was uncovered and documented
in 2001 (Mysliwiec 2002: 138). In 2007,
a larger section, close to 24 m long, was
documented. This wall is part of a monu-

mental stone structure referred to in topic
literature as the Western Massif, which is
integrally connected with the Step Pyramid
complex (on the Western Massif, Firth and
Quibell 1935: vol. I, 17; Lauer 1936: vol. I,
181-182, Fig. 206; vol. Ill, PI. XXII; Lauer
1962: PL 14b; Swelim 1983: 62; Wilkinson
1999 [2003]: 251).


Fiq. 1. Part of the western face of the Western Massif, view looking south
(Photo F Welc)

209

Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007