DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49512#0053
TOMB TYPES OF DYNASTY I, FIRST PART (MENES TO ZET)
21
Row io:
10/a. Overall .
. 3-8 m.
2-7 m.
1/1-4
10-26 sq. m.
4-32 sq. m.
10/b.
. 3-8 m.
2-5 m.
1/1-52
9'5 sq-m-
4-2 sq. m.
10/c.
• 3'9m-
2-6 m.
i/i-5
10-14 sq. m.
4-32 sq. m.
Row 11:
11/a. Overall .
• 3’9 m-
2-8 m.
i/i-39
10-92 sq. m.
5-0 sq. m.
11/b.
. 3-8 m.
2-8 m.
1/1-35
10-64 sq-m-
4-86 sq. m.
n/c. ,,
. 3-6 m.
2-6 m.
1/1-36
9-36 sq. m.
4-1 sq. m.
Row 12:
12/a. Overall .
. 5-8 m.
2-4 m.
1/2-4
13-92 sq. m.
6-72 sq. m.
The sizes of the mastabas of the eastern
group vary
around a tomb
with an area of 10
sq. m., in the
normal manner of a family cemetery.
The tombs described above ran from the end of the Predynastic period to the end of the reign of
Narmer (inclusive). The type of the substructure is in general the open pit lined with c.b. to form
a single burial chamber in which were placed the body and the whole of the funerary equipment,
stone vessels, pottery vessels including table vessels and wine and food jars, weapons, utensils, tools,
and ornaments. The chamber was sometimes, if not always, lined with wood; many bodies were in
wooden boxes or boxes of pottery or mud (poorer graves). The largest tombs, those of the kings
Menes and Narmer, had the heavy roof resting on wooden posts (round) along the east and west sides.
Long heavy beams crossed the grave from north to south and carried the east-west logs or beams
which bore the actual planking of the roof. If logs were used, the final roofing logs were probably covered
with matting. On top of this wooden roofing came a covering of c.b., laid in mud mortar and plastered
with mud, which was probably 80 to 120 cm. high. The reconstruction of the roofing with c.b. is based
on the remains found in tombs of the time of Zer and Zet. The private graves were generally roofed
with one or two layers of logs (or branches) laid across from east to west and covered with c.b. or mud.
The royal tombs differ from the private tombs chiefly in size and in the thickness of the lining walls.
The three royal tombs, B 19, 15, and 10, present the extreme limits in size reached by these single
chamber substructures. The device of supporting the roof with posts and beams was that which, being
expanded, led to the next step in the development of the size of the burial floor of the substructure.
5. ROYAL TOMBS OF TYPE RT I-2 AND RT I-3: ZER, ZET, AND MERNEITH
I have pointed out in Mycerinus, p. 138, and in Naga-ed-Der, III, pp. 36, 185, that the reign of Zer
marks the climax of the development of stone vessels and the introduction of a new series of more
elaborate forms. It is also the period in which begin the great provincial tombs of the palace-fagade
type. Other indications are the use of the name-stelae for both royal and private graves. It seems
clear that the reign of Zer marked a considerable step forward not only in expansion of production by
the various crafts but also in the ostentation of the court, based without doubt on an increase of
the income at the disposal of the king. The increase of income probably depended on a number of
factors:
(a) An increase in agricultural production due to the irrigation and similar works carried out by the
king.
(b) The establishment of a more effective machinery for the preservation of law and order which
favoured the industry of the cultivators.
21
Row io:
10/a. Overall .
. 3-8 m.
2-7 m.
1/1-4
10-26 sq. m.
4-32 sq. m.
10/b.
. 3-8 m.
2-5 m.
1/1-52
9'5 sq-m-
4-2 sq. m.
10/c.
• 3'9m-
2-6 m.
i/i-5
10-14 sq. m.
4-32 sq. m.
Row 11:
11/a. Overall .
• 3’9 m-
2-8 m.
i/i-39
10-92 sq. m.
5-0 sq. m.
11/b.
. 3-8 m.
2-8 m.
1/1-35
10-64 sq-m-
4-86 sq. m.
n/c. ,,
. 3-6 m.
2-6 m.
1/1-36
9-36 sq. m.
4-1 sq. m.
Row 12:
12/a. Overall .
. 5-8 m.
2-4 m.
1/2-4
13-92 sq. m.
6-72 sq. m.
The sizes of the mastabas of the eastern
group vary
around a tomb
with an area of 10
sq. m., in the
normal manner of a family cemetery.
The tombs described above ran from the end of the Predynastic period to the end of the reign of
Narmer (inclusive). The type of the substructure is in general the open pit lined with c.b. to form
a single burial chamber in which were placed the body and the whole of the funerary equipment,
stone vessels, pottery vessels including table vessels and wine and food jars, weapons, utensils, tools,
and ornaments. The chamber was sometimes, if not always, lined with wood; many bodies were in
wooden boxes or boxes of pottery or mud (poorer graves). The largest tombs, those of the kings
Menes and Narmer, had the heavy roof resting on wooden posts (round) along the east and west sides.
Long heavy beams crossed the grave from north to south and carried the east-west logs or beams
which bore the actual planking of the roof. If logs were used, the final roofing logs were probably covered
with matting. On top of this wooden roofing came a covering of c.b., laid in mud mortar and plastered
with mud, which was probably 80 to 120 cm. high. The reconstruction of the roofing with c.b. is based
on the remains found in tombs of the time of Zer and Zet. The private graves were generally roofed
with one or two layers of logs (or branches) laid across from east to west and covered with c.b. or mud.
The royal tombs differ from the private tombs chiefly in size and in the thickness of the lining walls.
The three royal tombs, B 19, 15, and 10, present the extreme limits in size reached by these single
chamber substructures. The device of supporting the roof with posts and beams was that which, being
expanded, led to the next step in the development of the size of the burial floor of the substructure.
5. ROYAL TOMBS OF TYPE RT I-2 AND RT I-3: ZER, ZET, AND MERNEITH
I have pointed out in Mycerinus, p. 138, and in Naga-ed-Der, III, pp. 36, 185, that the reign of Zer
marks the climax of the development of stone vessels and the introduction of a new series of more
elaborate forms. It is also the period in which begin the great provincial tombs of the palace-fagade
type. Other indications are the use of the name-stelae for both royal and private graves. It seems
clear that the reign of Zer marked a considerable step forward not only in expansion of production by
the various crafts but also in the ostentation of the court, based without doubt on an increase of
the income at the disposal of the king. The increase of income probably depended on a number of
factors:
(a) An increase in agricultural production due to the irrigation and similar works carried out by the
king.
(b) The establishment of a more effective machinery for the preservation of law and order which
favoured the industry of the cultivators.