DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3388#0022
'
12
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERIBOLOS
vicinity. With the exception of this, no signs of
sculpture were observed.
The Northern Tomb.
24. It will be noticed in the plan of the north side
of the pyramid, pi. viii, that there is a greater space
between it and the peribolos wall than exists on the
other three sides. The presence of a royal tomb was
therefore suspected here. On the second day of our
work we came upon a sloping passage cut in the rock,
descending to the south, pi. ix (c). This gradually
widened out into a rock-cut trench, 402 inches long
and 172 inches wide, almost filled up with large
blocks of stone, cemented together with rough mortar.
On tracing the south end of this trench, which was but
roughly cut, a lintel of limestone was met with (e),
set across the breadth of the trench, its back abutting
against the rock. On clearing down the face of this,
the sides of a stone-lined passage were met with.
The end of this stone passage was obstructed at A by
a large mass of rock, and it was at first thought that
the passage ended here, and that it was either a
dummy passage to deceive plunderers, or some kind
of relieving chamber placed over the sepulchral vault.
Accordingly the stones at the northern end of the
trench F were removed at different places, in search of
a second passage or shaft; but in every case we came
down to solid rock.
Renewed attention was then paid to the southern
end of the passage A, and a man was set to work
there in order to cut away the soft brown marl
beneath the lintel stone.
The sides of a narrow and short passage were
then traced, leading into a rough chamber to the west,
the greater part of the roof of which had fallen in, and
thus entirely blocked up the passage at A.
The floor of this chamber, as will be seen in the
plan, is considerably below that of the passage, there
being a drop here of 48 inches.
25. On the western side of the chamber there was
found an intact burial in a wooden coffin 55^ inches
long and 19 inches wide (outside measurements), con-
taining a body with its head to the north, facing
east. This was lying on its left side, the legs partially
contracted, both arms drawn up, and the hands placed
before the face (see left base of pi. ix). The thickness
of the box and other details could not be observed
owing to the decayed state of the wood. The outside
measurement of the coffin was only rendered possible
owing to the sand which lay against it having become
concreted by the action of salt,
Placed in front of the face at the east, and outside
the coffin, were seven small rough offering dishes, which
were all similar (pi. xxvi, 71). Together with these
was a large pottery jar (fig. 68), and a small cylinder
jar of pottery (fig. 69).
Scattered on the floor of the chamber, between
the coffin and the entrance, were two other jars
similar to 68, but these were too badly decayed to
be preserved or photographed. They both contained
a solid mass of resin and cloth, but no signs of any
human organ were observed in this.
Between the body and the western side of the
coffin, close to the pelvis, were six more small jars,
four of which were of cylindrical form, 69. These
held each a small quantity of a light yellowish clay.
The other two were of forms 51 and 70.
Unfortunately the state of the bones prevented
them from being preserved, but the lower jaw was
sound, having been protected by a lump of resin
and cloth which was found adhering to the inside
surface of the bone and teeth. No trace of this
substance was found' either inside or outside of the
skull, which fell to pieces on being lifted.
The bones were also examined as far as was
possible in search of further traces of a preservative;
but that adhering to the jaw, and the lumps found in
the two pottery jars, were all that was found.
We have therefore from this tomb distinct evidence
of attempted mummification, though how the resinous
packing was placed inside the mandible is not easy
to understand, unless the flesh was first stripped from
the bone.
26. The measurements of the chamber are 76
inches N. to S., and 91 inches E. to W. The roof
was badly broken, but I have estimated and shewn it
on the plan as being 155 inches high. The orientation
of this and the stone passage was north to south.
Before finding the chamber we had noticed on
each side of the passage, close to the lintel stone, a
vertical groove rounded inside, j\ inches wide and
6 inches deep, and extending down to the paving.
These grooves must have been cut for the purpose of
holding a portcullis, no traces of which now remain.
A slab of sufficient thickness to fit these grooves, and
yet of sufficient strength, must have been made of
granite or similar hard stone.
A large plug block of limestone, the upper part of
which has been destroyed, was found inserted in the
passage at D. This fits the entrance so well that it
was at first thought that the passage ended here, and
that a large horizontal block was laid against its
12
TOMBS WITHIN THE PERIBOLOS
vicinity. With the exception of this, no signs of
sculpture were observed.
The Northern Tomb.
24. It will be noticed in the plan of the north side
of the pyramid, pi. viii, that there is a greater space
between it and the peribolos wall than exists on the
other three sides. The presence of a royal tomb was
therefore suspected here. On the second day of our
work we came upon a sloping passage cut in the rock,
descending to the south, pi. ix (c). This gradually
widened out into a rock-cut trench, 402 inches long
and 172 inches wide, almost filled up with large
blocks of stone, cemented together with rough mortar.
On tracing the south end of this trench, which was but
roughly cut, a lintel of limestone was met with (e),
set across the breadth of the trench, its back abutting
against the rock. On clearing down the face of this,
the sides of a stone-lined passage were met with.
The end of this stone passage was obstructed at A by
a large mass of rock, and it was at first thought that
the passage ended here, and that it was either a
dummy passage to deceive plunderers, or some kind
of relieving chamber placed over the sepulchral vault.
Accordingly the stones at the northern end of the
trench F were removed at different places, in search of
a second passage or shaft; but in every case we came
down to solid rock.
Renewed attention was then paid to the southern
end of the passage A, and a man was set to work
there in order to cut away the soft brown marl
beneath the lintel stone.
The sides of a narrow and short passage were
then traced, leading into a rough chamber to the west,
the greater part of the roof of which had fallen in, and
thus entirely blocked up the passage at A.
The floor of this chamber, as will be seen in the
plan, is considerably below that of the passage, there
being a drop here of 48 inches.
25. On the western side of the chamber there was
found an intact burial in a wooden coffin 55^ inches
long and 19 inches wide (outside measurements), con-
taining a body with its head to the north, facing
east. This was lying on its left side, the legs partially
contracted, both arms drawn up, and the hands placed
before the face (see left base of pi. ix). The thickness
of the box and other details could not be observed
owing to the decayed state of the wood. The outside
measurement of the coffin was only rendered possible
owing to the sand which lay against it having become
concreted by the action of salt,
Placed in front of the face at the east, and outside
the coffin, were seven small rough offering dishes, which
were all similar (pi. xxvi, 71). Together with these
was a large pottery jar (fig. 68), and a small cylinder
jar of pottery (fig. 69).
Scattered on the floor of the chamber, between
the coffin and the entrance, were two other jars
similar to 68, but these were too badly decayed to
be preserved or photographed. They both contained
a solid mass of resin and cloth, but no signs of any
human organ were observed in this.
Between the body and the western side of the
coffin, close to the pelvis, were six more small jars,
four of which were of cylindrical form, 69. These
held each a small quantity of a light yellowish clay.
The other two were of forms 51 and 70.
Unfortunately the state of the bones prevented
them from being preserved, but the lower jaw was
sound, having been protected by a lump of resin
and cloth which was found adhering to the inside
surface of the bone and teeth. No trace of this
substance was found' either inside or outside of the
skull, which fell to pieces on being lifted.
The bones were also examined as far as was
possible in search of further traces of a preservative;
but that adhering to the jaw, and the lumps found in
the two pottery jars, were all that was found.
We have therefore from this tomb distinct evidence
of attempted mummification, though how the resinous
packing was placed inside the mandible is not easy
to understand, unless the flesh was first stripped from
the bone.
26. The measurements of the chamber are 76
inches N. to S., and 91 inches E. to W. The roof
was badly broken, but I have estimated and shewn it
on the plan as being 155 inches high. The orientation
of this and the stone passage was north to south.
Before finding the chamber we had noticed on
each side of the passage, close to the lintel stone, a
vertical groove rounded inside, j\ inches wide and
6 inches deep, and extending down to the paving.
These grooves must have been cut for the purpose of
holding a portcullis, no traces of which now remain.
A slab of sufficient thickness to fit these grooves, and
yet of sufficient strength, must have been made of
granite or similar hard stone.
A large plug block of limestone, the upper part of
which has been destroyed, was found inserted in the
passage at D. This fits the entrance so well that it
was at first thought that the passage ended here, and
that a large horizontal block was laid against its