DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3388#0020
10
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERlBOLOS
CHAPTER IV
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERlBOLOS.
By ERNEST MAC KAY.
The Southern Tomb.
20. THE principal work entrusted to me this year
was that on the south side of the pyramid of
Meydum. Prof. Petrie, before working upon this
site in 1891, observed a large mound of limestone
chips lying between the western part of the southern
face and the pyramid wall. On going down in this,
for some twenty-five feet or more, he came to two
sides of a rock-cut pit, but owing to the great depth
and hardness of the concreted rubbish, the work had
to be abandoned till a more favourable opportunity.
My work was first begun in the large clearing
made by Prof. Petrie, which though cut eighteen
years ago was not much filled up by debris. The
two sides of the rock pit observed by him were
quickly reached, and then followed, progress being
at first slow owing to the large blocks of stone
hampering the work.
The majority of these were much too large to
be taken to the surface, or to be broken up, and we
had to examine the southern portion of the pit first
by rolling the stones to the north, and when this had
been done, rolling them back again.
As our clearance progressed north, large stones
were observed in position on the eastern and western
sides, until finally we came upon the southern end of
an entrance passage running north, with the original
plugging blocks still in position. See pis. vii-ix.
It was now seen that we were in what remained
of a large subterranean tomb, cut in the rock, and
formerly lined with massive limestone blocks, most
of which had been removed in early times (possibly
in the xxth dynasty) for building material.
In the passage south of the plug-blocks were
found two burials, in a contracted position, which was
due to the size of the passage. They were placed
on the rubbish which half filled it.
These bodies, presumably of the xxiind dynasty,
were lying on their right sides, with their heads to
the west, and looking south, and were protected by
the passage being walled in at the south with small
blocks of stone and cement. No offerings or amu-
lets were found with them ; but a small copper bowl
was found in the rubbish beneath them, which had
been badly battered by an edged instrument, such as
an adze, in an attempt to destroy it. (At Manchester.)
The whole rock cutting was carefully searched
to the bottom for more objects, but nothing further
was found.
As the bowl could not be of the same date as
the burials beneath which it lay, it is quite possible
that it is all that is left of the offerings deposited with
the original burial at the end of the iiird dynasty.
21. The plan of what remains of this tomb will be
seen in pi. ix. It was not practicable to find the
northern face of the rock pit in which it lay, owing
to the northern portion having built blocks lying in
position on each side of the entrance passage.
The eastern face of the passage is the best pre-
served, and runs south until it reaches point B (pi. ix)
which is the limit of stone in position on this side.
The faces of the stones from B to c are very rou«h
and as there are no indications that a turn was taken
here to the east, it is probable that the wall was
carried along to the southern side. This would a^ree
with a series of tombs opened up to the west of the
pyramid (pi. xv).
Of the western side of the entrance way very
little remains, except for five courses of stones
rising in steps from D to E, the top course at E
being just below the great lintel stone of the
passage, see pi. vii.
The two bottom courses (section pi. ix) are what
remains of the stone floor of the tomb, except for
that which forms the floor of the passage, which is
38 inches deep.
Two of the stones above these two pavement
courses shew evidence of finished faces, and I have
indicated the positions of these on the plans by the
line FF.
It is reasonable to suspect that the thickness of
the stonework on the eastern and western sides of this
demolished tomb would have been the same, and I
have therefore shewn the western side in a broken
line at F and G.
The southern end of the chamber is impossible to
place with any reasonable certainty. It is probable,
however, that there was the same amount of stone-
work here as on the eastern and western sides. It
will be noticed that the S.E. and S.W. corners of the
rock pit have been left projecting, doubtless for
reasons of economy.
22. As remarked before, the southern portion of
the passage is perfectly preserved ; but we did not
see the northern end, owing to the immense quantity
of pyramid rubbish under which it lies. The passage
measures 47-3 inches in breadth by 637 in height,
and is surmounted at its exposed end by a lintel
"
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERlBOLOS
CHAPTER IV
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERlBOLOS.
By ERNEST MAC KAY.
The Southern Tomb.
20. THE principal work entrusted to me this year
was that on the south side of the pyramid of
Meydum. Prof. Petrie, before working upon this
site in 1891, observed a large mound of limestone
chips lying between the western part of the southern
face and the pyramid wall. On going down in this,
for some twenty-five feet or more, he came to two
sides of a rock-cut pit, but owing to the great depth
and hardness of the concreted rubbish, the work had
to be abandoned till a more favourable opportunity.
My work was first begun in the large clearing
made by Prof. Petrie, which though cut eighteen
years ago was not much filled up by debris. The
two sides of the rock pit observed by him were
quickly reached, and then followed, progress being
at first slow owing to the large blocks of stone
hampering the work.
The majority of these were much too large to
be taken to the surface, or to be broken up, and we
had to examine the southern portion of the pit first
by rolling the stones to the north, and when this had
been done, rolling them back again.
As our clearance progressed north, large stones
were observed in position on the eastern and western
sides, until finally we came upon the southern end of
an entrance passage running north, with the original
plugging blocks still in position. See pis. vii-ix.
It was now seen that we were in what remained
of a large subterranean tomb, cut in the rock, and
formerly lined with massive limestone blocks, most
of which had been removed in early times (possibly
in the xxth dynasty) for building material.
In the passage south of the plug-blocks were
found two burials, in a contracted position, which was
due to the size of the passage. They were placed
on the rubbish which half filled it.
These bodies, presumably of the xxiind dynasty,
were lying on their right sides, with their heads to
the west, and looking south, and were protected by
the passage being walled in at the south with small
blocks of stone and cement. No offerings or amu-
lets were found with them ; but a small copper bowl
was found in the rubbish beneath them, which had
been badly battered by an edged instrument, such as
an adze, in an attempt to destroy it. (At Manchester.)
The whole rock cutting was carefully searched
to the bottom for more objects, but nothing further
was found.
As the bowl could not be of the same date as
the burials beneath which it lay, it is quite possible
that it is all that is left of the offerings deposited with
the original burial at the end of the iiird dynasty.
21. The plan of what remains of this tomb will be
seen in pi. ix. It was not practicable to find the
northern face of the rock pit in which it lay, owing
to the northern portion having built blocks lying in
position on each side of the entrance passage.
The eastern face of the passage is the best pre-
served, and runs south until it reaches point B (pi. ix)
which is the limit of stone in position on this side.
The faces of the stones from B to c are very rou«h
and as there are no indications that a turn was taken
here to the east, it is probable that the wall was
carried along to the southern side. This would a^ree
with a series of tombs opened up to the west of the
pyramid (pi. xv).
Of the western side of the entrance way very
little remains, except for five courses of stones
rising in steps from D to E, the top course at E
being just below the great lintel stone of the
passage, see pi. vii.
The two bottom courses (section pi. ix) are what
remains of the stone floor of the tomb, except for
that which forms the floor of the passage, which is
38 inches deep.
Two of the stones above these two pavement
courses shew evidence of finished faces, and I have
indicated the positions of these on the plans by the
line FF.
It is reasonable to suspect that the thickness of
the stonework on the eastern and western sides of this
demolished tomb would have been the same, and I
have therefore shewn the western side in a broken
line at F and G.
The southern end of the chamber is impossible to
place with any reasonable certainty. It is probable,
however, that there was the same amount of stone-
work here as on the eastern and western sides. It
will be noticed that the S.E. and S.W. corners of the
rock pit have been left projecting, doubtless for
reasons of economy.
22. As remarked before, the southern portion of
the passage is perfectly preserved ; but we did not
see the northern end, owing to the immense quantity
of pyramid rubbish under which it lies. The passage
measures 47-3 inches in breadth by 637 in height,
and is surmounted at its exposed end by a lintel
"