DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49512#0263
THE MASTABA AND THE SUBSTRUCTURE OF PRIVATE TOMBS OF THE REIGN OF SNEFERUW 227
N 573 + 587, N 574, N 589, and N 588, are true stairway tombs of Dyn. HI. The fifth, N 561, has a
stepped shaft and contained stone vessels of the transition period. I date this tomb to the beginning
of the reign of Sneferuw. The sixth mastaba, N 739, has a brick-lined shaft constructed in the southern
end of a rude construction stair, and contained a vessel inscribed with the name of Sneferuw. This
I date to the latter part of the reign of Sneferuw or the early part of the reign of Cheops. The seventh
mastaba, N 610, has a shaft with chamber on the south and I would date it to the reign of Chephren.
In close proximity to the fifth to seventh mastabas lie complexes of small mastabas of Dyn. IV, as
fully described in Naga-ed-Der, III, pp. 163-192. The two larger mastabas which may be ascribed to
the reign of Sneferuw are as follows:
Fig. 119 Fig. 120
(1) N 561 b: see Naga-ed-Der, III, p. 212: see Fig. 119.
Superstructure: filled c.b. mastaba with two niches on valley face.
Measurements: N-S E-W Prop. Area
Overall . . . io-6m. 5-9 1/1-9 62-5 sq. m.
Substructure: cut in gravel; vertical shaft, 1-5 x 1 -4 m. and 2 m. deep, with three rough steps rising to
north; single chamber on south closed with c.b. wall; contracted burial on left side with head
south, probably in wooden box.
(2) N 739: see Naga-ed-Der, III, p. 248: see Fig. 120.
Superstructure: filled c.b. mastaba with two niches enclosed by low corridor wall, on valley face.
Measurements: N-S E-W Prop. Area
Overall . . . 10-35 m- ^-3 m. 1/1-7 65-2 sq. m.
Substructure: vertical shaft constructed of c.b. in southern end of rude construction stair; filled
with sand and sealed with layer of mud plaster; single chamber on south closed with c.b. wall;
body contracted on left side, head south, probably in wooden box.
(2) Small Mastabas
The small mastabas associated with the two mastabas described above lie in N-S rows of three or
four mastabas built one against the other. All are two-niched mastabas usually with unequal niches.
N 573 + 587, N 574, N 589, and N 588, are true stairway tombs of Dyn. HI. The fifth, N 561, has a
stepped shaft and contained stone vessels of the transition period. I date this tomb to the beginning
of the reign of Sneferuw. The sixth mastaba, N 739, has a brick-lined shaft constructed in the southern
end of a rude construction stair, and contained a vessel inscribed with the name of Sneferuw. This
I date to the latter part of the reign of Sneferuw or the early part of the reign of Cheops. The seventh
mastaba, N 610, has a shaft with chamber on the south and I would date it to the reign of Chephren.
In close proximity to the fifth to seventh mastabas lie complexes of small mastabas of Dyn. IV, as
fully described in Naga-ed-Der, III, pp. 163-192. The two larger mastabas which may be ascribed to
the reign of Sneferuw are as follows:
Fig. 119 Fig. 120
(1) N 561 b: see Naga-ed-Der, III, p. 212: see Fig. 119.
Superstructure: filled c.b. mastaba with two niches on valley face.
Measurements: N-S E-W Prop. Area
Overall . . . io-6m. 5-9 1/1-9 62-5 sq. m.
Substructure: cut in gravel; vertical shaft, 1-5 x 1 -4 m. and 2 m. deep, with three rough steps rising to
north; single chamber on south closed with c.b. wall; contracted burial on left side with head
south, probably in wooden box.
(2) N 739: see Naga-ed-Der, III, p. 248: see Fig. 120.
Superstructure: filled c.b. mastaba with two niches enclosed by low corridor wall, on valley face.
Measurements: N-S E-W Prop. Area
Overall . . . 10-35 m- ^-3 m. 1/1-7 65-2 sq. m.
Substructure: vertical shaft constructed of c.b. in southern end of rude construction stair; filled
with sand and sealed with layer of mud plaster; single chamber on south closed with c.b. wall;
body contracted on left side, head south, probably in wooden box.
(2) Small Mastabas
The small mastabas associated with the two mastabas described above lie in N-S rows of three or
four mastabas built one against the other. All are two-niched mastabas usually with unequal niches.