DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4664#0012
THE EARLIEST STONEWORK.
Rough Stone Pavements, etc.
17. In the eastern quarter of the temple enclosure,
ten metres from the inner enclosure-wall, are remains
of a rough pavement.
The depth is 4/ 15 metres below datum level, and
therefore at the same depth as the foot of the circular
Revetment. This seems to show that this was the
ground level at one time, and that the foot of the
circular revetment does not rest in a trench dug for
its foundations, but that the lowest courses were
merely laid on what was then the surface of the
soil.
Very little now remains of this pavement, the
stones are (like those of all these low-lying construc-
tions), rough natural Nubian sandstone blocks, un-
dressed, and laid without much care.
18. On the western side of the temple enclosure,
close against the plane of the face, but o#2 cm. below
the foot of a thick crude brick wall, are two parallel
rows of rough undressed Nubian sandstone blocks,
resting on the archaic stratum 3 ■ 5 metres below
datum level, or i-o below the foot of the sanctuary
walls. Their general direction makes a small angle
with the temple axis and later buildings. The face
of the thick crude brick wall has been slightly skewed,
so as to follow their direction, perhaps to avoid
covering them, while at the same time keeping as
close as possible to their outer face. The rest of the
wall is parallel to the temple axis. The row stops
just below a thinner cross-wall, which is at a lower
level than other crude brick walls, and may possibly
be earlier. The dimensions of the bricks composing
it are 37 ? X 19? X 11 cm. There was no evidence
to show that the parallel row of stones formed the
foot of a crude brick or other kind of wall.
Six metres beyond these rows is another patch of
rough stone work, resting on the charcoal-discoloured
stratum. The direction is at right angles or nearly
so to the parallel row of stones just mentioned. The
end of this short row, which is in line with the long
parallel row, is laid on ground of the same level, but
as it nears the circular revetment it tends to ascend.
The small detached patch of stonework still further
to the N.W. is level with the higher end of this
group.
The cross row seems to be part of an inclined
pavement leading from the level of the long parallel
row to a pavement at a rather higher level.
These parallel rows of rough blocks probably
run further to the N.W. than is shown in the plan;
but as the site is occupied by native houses at
this point it was deemed inexpedient to incur the
expense necessary to continue the trenches in this
direction.
At a point near the well close against the inner
enclosure wall, are the remains of another pavement
of rough stone blocks. The level of this is higher
than the rest of the work of a similar character, being
only 2 ■ 7 metres below datum level, and is therefore
more nearly on a level with the circular limestone
block at the end of the revetted passage than is the
rest of the rough stonework. Not enough remains,
however, for any exact estimate of its relation with
the other early structures to be made out.
Near the spot where Mr. Quibell found the great
inscribed palette, and probably in some relation with
it, is a rectangular slab of limestone with a shallow
rectangular depression on its upper surface. Close to
this slab is a row of stones which may have formed
part of some structure since destroyed. The level of
this group, which rest on the charcoal-discoloured
stratum, is that of the circular limestone block at the
end of the revetted passage, so they should be at-
tributed to the period when that addition was made
to the central structure; and it seemed to me as
before stated that all the objects belonging to the
main deposit, as well as the squatting statues and door
socket, should be ascribed to this period, and not to
the earlier period when the revetted mound was
heaped together.
19. The archaic structures which have been just
described may when complete have formed at the
earliest period a building something as follows. A
circular, or nearly circular, revetted mound or plat-
form, on which may have stood a shrine like that
depicted on one of the Old Kingdom Mastabas in the
Gizeh Museum. Extending from the base of the
mound on all sides, but especially to the S.E.,
stretched a pavement; this may have been only of
hard earth, with the parts most subject to wear, such
as the approach to the wells, made of rough stones.
Though it should be noticed that, judging by the
levels, only the small patch of pavement 10 metres
from the revetted inclined plane seems contemporary
with the circular Revetment; the rest of the pave-
ments seem rather to belong to the period when the
revetted passage was added to the central structure.
Rough Stone Pavements, etc.
17. In the eastern quarter of the temple enclosure,
ten metres from the inner enclosure-wall, are remains
of a rough pavement.
The depth is 4/ 15 metres below datum level, and
therefore at the same depth as the foot of the circular
Revetment. This seems to show that this was the
ground level at one time, and that the foot of the
circular revetment does not rest in a trench dug for
its foundations, but that the lowest courses were
merely laid on what was then the surface of the
soil.
Very little now remains of this pavement, the
stones are (like those of all these low-lying construc-
tions), rough natural Nubian sandstone blocks, un-
dressed, and laid without much care.
18. On the western side of the temple enclosure,
close against the plane of the face, but o#2 cm. below
the foot of a thick crude brick wall, are two parallel
rows of rough undressed Nubian sandstone blocks,
resting on the archaic stratum 3 ■ 5 metres below
datum level, or i-o below the foot of the sanctuary
walls. Their general direction makes a small angle
with the temple axis and later buildings. The face
of the thick crude brick wall has been slightly skewed,
so as to follow their direction, perhaps to avoid
covering them, while at the same time keeping as
close as possible to their outer face. The rest of the
wall is parallel to the temple axis. The row stops
just below a thinner cross-wall, which is at a lower
level than other crude brick walls, and may possibly
be earlier. The dimensions of the bricks composing
it are 37 ? X 19? X 11 cm. There was no evidence
to show that the parallel row of stones formed the
foot of a crude brick or other kind of wall.
Six metres beyond these rows is another patch of
rough stone work, resting on the charcoal-discoloured
stratum. The direction is at right angles or nearly
so to the parallel row of stones just mentioned. The
end of this short row, which is in line with the long
parallel row, is laid on ground of the same level, but
as it nears the circular revetment it tends to ascend.
The small detached patch of stonework still further
to the N.W. is level with the higher end of this
group.
The cross row seems to be part of an inclined
pavement leading from the level of the long parallel
row to a pavement at a rather higher level.
These parallel rows of rough blocks probably
run further to the N.W. than is shown in the plan;
but as the site is occupied by native houses at
this point it was deemed inexpedient to incur the
expense necessary to continue the trenches in this
direction.
At a point near the well close against the inner
enclosure wall, are the remains of another pavement
of rough stone blocks. The level of this is higher
than the rest of the work of a similar character, being
only 2 ■ 7 metres below datum level, and is therefore
more nearly on a level with the circular limestone
block at the end of the revetted passage than is the
rest of the rough stonework. Not enough remains,
however, for any exact estimate of its relation with
the other early structures to be made out.
Near the spot where Mr. Quibell found the great
inscribed palette, and probably in some relation with
it, is a rectangular slab of limestone with a shallow
rectangular depression on its upper surface. Close to
this slab is a row of stones which may have formed
part of some structure since destroyed. The level of
this group, which rest on the charcoal-discoloured
stratum, is that of the circular limestone block at the
end of the revetted passage, so they should be at-
tributed to the period when that addition was made
to the central structure; and it seemed to me as
before stated that all the objects belonging to the
main deposit, as well as the squatting statues and door
socket, should be ascribed to this period, and not to
the earlier period when the revetted mound was
heaped together.
19. The archaic structures which have been just
described may when complete have formed at the
earliest period a building something as follows. A
circular, or nearly circular, revetted mound or plat-
form, on which may have stood a shrine like that
depicted on one of the Old Kingdom Mastabas in the
Gizeh Museum. Extending from the base of the
mound on all sides, but especially to the S.E.,
stretched a pavement; this may have been only of
hard earth, with the parts most subject to wear, such
as the approach to the wells, made of rough stones.
Though it should be noticed that, judging by the
levels, only the small patch of pavement 10 metres
from the revetted inclined plane seems contemporary
with the circular Revetment; the rest of the pave-
ments seem rather to belong to the period when the
revetted passage was added to the central structure.