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1

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2016 season

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Megahed M., Jánosi P., Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

37-52

EN

The article presents the results of the 2016 archaeological season of the Egyptian mission in the pyramid complex of King Djedkare in South Saqqara. The works focused on the western part of the causeway where remains of a drainage was documented, and on the storerooms situated to the south of the entrance passage. During this work, also the north side of the so-called southern massive was cleaned. Besides the funerary temple, also the private cemetery located to the south-east of it started to be documented in this season. A mud brick structure, MS 1, was cleaned; it consisted of six shafts with vaulted burial chambers. Only one of the chambers (in shaft 5) was cased with limestone slabs, which bear a well preserved painted decoration. This burial chamber belonged to Pepyankh Setju and can be dated to the late Sixth Dynasty. Another part of the work in 2016 concentrated inside the pyramid of the king. The consolidation and restoration works were carried out in the burial apartments, concentrating on the missing part of the eastern wall of the antechamber and the core behind it.

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The tomb of Khuwy at Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara. Preliminary report on the 2019 spring season

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Megahed M., Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2019

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issue 23

37-48

EN

The royal necropolis surrounding the pyramid complex of Djedkare at South Saqqara is largely unexplored. In the 2019 spring season, the Egyptian mission uncovered a large mastaba in the north-east part of the necropolis. This tomb belonged to Khuwy, and it boasts some features with royal connotations, including an altar with two Sn-symbols, the plan of the substructure reflecting the royal pyramids, and mummification of the body of the owner. In addition, the tomb provides us with one of the earliest attested decorated burial chambers, specifically the antechamber in the substructure. The wall paintings, which are very well preserved, comprise many motifs related to the provisioning of the deceased, as attested in later Old Kingdom examples of decorated burial chambers. Besides this, however, these paintings include some themes uncommon in substructures at that time, namely the tomb owner sitting at an offering table and sailing boats. The uncovered evidence seems to point to a late Fifth Dynasty date of the tomb (perhaps Djedkare/Unas) and indicates a high social status of the tomb owner, Khuwy, who was highly likely very close to the royal family.

3

Some newly uncovered blocks from the tomb of Rashepses at Saqqara

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El-Tayeb H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

124-134

EN

The tomb of the Vizier, Rashepses, located in Saqqara to the north of Netjerykhet’s pyramid complex, belongs among the large and complex mastabas of the late Fifth Dynasty. The paper presents some of the decorated blocks which were uncovered during the exploration of the tomb by the Egyptian mission. These blocks include architectural components with the inscribed titles and name of the tomb owner, a fragment of a scene of the tomb owner at the offering table and a fragment of scenes showing the netting of birds and gathering papyrus.

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Exploration of structures AS 66 and AS 69 in Abusir South: Preliminary report on the 2015 and 2016 seasons

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Vymazalová H.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

66-80

EN

The paper presents preliminary results of the exploration of another part of the Abusir South non-royal cemetery. Structures AS 66 and AS 69 were partly uncovered in the spring season of 2012 during the exploration of the tomb complex of Princess Sheretnebty, AS 68. During the fall season of 2015 and fall season of 2016, the structures were explored and documented, revealing a mastaba, AS 69, above the rock-cut tombs of Sheretnebty (AS 68c) and Nefer (AS 68d) and an enigmatic area, AS 66, above the rock-cut tombs of Duaptah (AS 68a) and Shepespuptah (AS 68b), which appears not to have been a tomb but perhaps an enclosed open area.

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A preliminary report on the excavations of tomb AS 91 at Abusir South (autumn season 2016)

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Peterková Hlouchová M., Bělohoubková D., Sůvová Z., Havelková P.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

53-65

EN

This article summarises the excavations of tomb AS 91, uncovered during the autumn season of 2016 at AbusirSouth. The mastaba was highly damaged and its superstructure had almost completely disappeared. Three shafts were detected in the mastaba core. Shafts 1 and 2 were rather shallow, but to the contrary, Shaft 3 was considerably deeper, and at its bottom, an unfinished burial chamber was hewn. The burial had been looted, but a few fragmentarily preserved human bones, a fairly high number of animal remains, and even two Barn Owl skeletons were collected there. The archaeological report is supported by an archaeozoological analysis of the animal remains and by an anthropological study of the fragmentary human bones.

6

Some remarks on the dating of 12 Old Kingdom tombs at Giza

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Thuault S.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2019

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issue 23

152-169

EN

This paper aims to confirm or revise the dating of a dozen Old Kingdom tombs in the Giza necropolis (precisely Western, G I-South, Eastern and Central Cemeteries), monuments whose chronology is still debated. The 12 mastabas here commented on are often dated to more or less extensive periods, which can sometimes spread over two dynasties. Moreover, when absolute dating is proposed, it is generally based on questionable elements and events with uncertain chronological positioning. The Egyptian chronology is still subject to perceptive bias and archaeological happenstance, new discoveries being liable to challenge previous dating. Thus, the present study draws up lists of criteria that give the opportunity to propose clear dating for each tomb. A wide range of evidence is taken into consideration: decoration (including palaeography), prosopography, anthroponymy, location in the cemeteries, architecture, tomb dimensions, furniture, etc. I believe that an overview of these various aspects is the only way to suggest precise dating for each tomb. Moreover, this paper shows that two main periods stand out during the whole of the Old Kingdom, periods covering one or two reigns. This conclusion is very interesting for the architectural and political history of the Old Kingdom; a conclusion we may come to through the distribution of the tombs in the cemeteries, their dimensions and decoration, etc.

7

Největší z lékařů : Hrobka Šepseskafancha, lékaře Horního a Dolního Egypta

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Bárta M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2014

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issue 12

3-10

EN

In September 2013 the Czech Institute of Egyptology started its fall excavation season in Abusir South. The Institute resumed work in the area in the immediate vicinity of the tombs of princess Sheretnebty and Nefer which have become famous, among other things, owing to the large numbers of unique stone statuary and the stela of Nefer, discovered and publicised world-wide only last year. In order to understand the complete history of this particular family cemetery which originated sometime during the reign of Niuserre and continued into the reign of Djedkare, the excavation moved to the northeast area where the entrance to the whole complex was uncovered. One of the oldest tombs discovered in this area of the cemetery so far belongs to the chief physician of Upper and Lower Egypt, Shepseskafankh. He had a rather impressive tomb built, of about 22 × 11.50 m in size, with limestone walls preserved to a height of about 3 m. A long corridor chapel with a unique monumental false door built of several blocks of limestone is located in the eastern part of the superstructure. The importance of the discovery lies in the fact that Shepseskafankh was one of very few, so far known, top-ranking physicians of the pharaohs of the third millennium BC Egypt. His titles detail Shepseskafankh as a friends of the House, chief physician of Upper and Lower Egypt, priest of Ra in the sun temple of Userkaf, Neferirkare and Niuserre, priest of Khnum “in front of Both Mansions of Life”, a priest of Magic, priest of Hathor in all her places, wab-priest of the king, keeper of secrets of His Lord, physician of the Great House, overseer of the foodofferings of the Great House, priest of Horus of Shenwet, Anubis, foremost of Sepa(-district), priest of the Red crown, priest of Khnum, foremost of the House of Life and the House of Protection – a designation which indicates his knowledge and the extraordinary position and respect he enjoyed at the royal court. Unfortunately, all burial chambers of the complex were heavily robbed and provided but a meagre amount of human remains. The historical importance of this discovery lies in the fact that Shepseskafankh belonged to a very few highest ranking physicians known from the era of the Old Kingdom pyramid builders who had a very close relationship with the ruling king. At the same time, his is already the third physician tomb discovered at the same cemetery in Abusir.

CS

Zájemci o starý Egypt a archeologické výzkumy v Egyptě a Súdánu se často ptají, jak dlouho trvá učinit archeo - logický „objev“. Tento článek se bude zabývat jedním z takových „objevů“, a to hrobkou lékaře a kněze Šep - seskafancha. Rok 2013 byl v mnoha ohledech přímým pokračováním archeologických aktivit v jižním Abúsíru z roku 2012. Archeologické práce se soustředily i nadále na komplex kněze Neferinpua a princezny Šeretnebtej z poloviny 5. dynastie. Tento soubor hrobek (kombinace skalních hrobek a klasických mastab), postavený ve třech výškových úrovních, představuje i nadále, přes veškeré naše dosavadní úsilí, oblast, jejíž poznávání není ani zdaleka ukončeno, a archeologická překvapení se vynořují jedno za druhým. Na úvod je třeba ještě uvést, že než jsme se k této hrobce dopracovali, uplynulo od počátku výzkumu v těchto místech lokality více než deset let.

8

Objev pohřební komory hodnostáře Nefera

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Bárta M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2014

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issue 13

3-6

EN

During the spring season of 2014 in Abusir, the Czech mission focused on further archaeological exploration of the tomb complex of Nefer, dating to the second half of the Fifth Dynasty. Working inside his rock-cut chapel, two more shafts (out of four) were explored. Shaft 1, located in the southernmost part of the room, belonged to Nefer himself. The shaft opening corresponds with the principal false door of the room, that of Nefer. The shaft is 6 m deep, with a buri - al chamber opening to the south. The room was entered from the north. The entrance was originally blocked by a wall built of smaller and larger limestone chips, limestone blocks and mud bricks joined with mud mortar. The wall was broken by ancient tomb robbers in the eastern part. The burial chamber was found with the ceiling largely collapsed. Thus it was impossible to work inside the chamber but for a few hours. Therefore only very few measurements could be taken. The room measures roughly 3.67 × 2.25 m in ground plan. Most of the room was occupied by a large limestone sarcophagus (its chest mea - suring 2.25 × 1.05 × 0.75 m). Inside the sarcophagus, a completely destroyed burial was found, pushed to the south part of the sarcophagus (380/AS68/2014). It belonged to amale person of about 40–60 years of age. From the buri - al equipment, only a group of miniature model vessels made of limestone was found, consisting of 70 plates and 16 cups. Shaft 4, which is 4.5 m deep, is located close to the entrance into the chapel. The east wall of the shaft was shaped into a “manoeuvring recess” across the last 1.90 m of its length and so cut away the corner of the west wall of the shaft above the entrance into the burial chamber. The burial chamber is located to the west of the shaft and was found sealed with an intact stone wall. The burial chamber itself measures 2.96 × 2.14 × 0.80 m and it is orientated in the north-south direction. Most of the space was taken up by a limestone sarcophagus which is 2.50 m long, 1.10 m wide and 0.80 m high (chest). Remains of very limited intact burial equipment were discovered during the course of archaeological documentation inside the chamber. It consisted of four canopic vessels originally placed on the southern end of the sarcophagus lid (388/AS68/2014). These were originally placed in a wooden box which was found completely decayed. Due to post-depositional processes, one canopic vessel and two lids were found in the fill on the south side of the sarcophagus. Apart from this, only one beer jar was found lying on the floor of the chamber, in the southwest corner, and some small fragments of miniature copper vessels originating from the fill of the chamber could be documented. Since the sarcophagus was found sealed, it was officially opened in collaboration with the representatives of the Saqqara Inspectorate of Antiquities, the director Mr. Allah Shehata and chief inspector Mr. Sabri, on March 19. After the lid was pushed aside, a well preserved skeleton (not a mummy) (389/AS68/2014) was discovered inside. It belonged to an anonymous official of 40–60 years of age. He was lying in an outstretched position, head to the north. Along his eastern side a decayed wooden stick could be seen. Otherwise only small faience amulets and tiny pieces of golden foil were found. The faience amulets were found on the ankles and wrists of the deceased and included three different shapes, very close to the hieroglyphic signs “n”, “r” and “nb”.

9

No “painting by numbers”. Khuwy’s polychrome wall decoration at Djedkare’s royal cemetery

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Pieke G.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2021

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issue 26

23-45

EN

The mastaba of Khuwy at the Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara is one of the earliest attested decorated burial chambers. The very well preserved wall paintings on low relief in the antechamber of the substructure bear testimony to the high standard of this particular form of art already in the Old Kingdom. In combination with the iconographic concept and composition of the chamber, Khuwy’s paintings offer a very rare opportunity for an in depth study of the painting process and the art techniques of this period. A short preliminary study has already managed to record some specific painting practices used in the ante chamber. It is evident that the painter(s) responsible for the decoration of the antechamber were particularly interested in rendering details. Their work is characterised by a specific use of different colours and their shades in combination with skilful execution of painted and drawn details particularly in the depictions of the textures of the represented objects and animals.

10

Jižní Abúsír – predběžná zpráva o výzkumu v roce 2015. Kaisebiho hrobka a okolí (AS 76-78)

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Dulíková V., Jirásková L.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 16

25-36

EN

In the year 2015, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology focused particularly on the area south of mastaba AS 54. Already in 2014, three new mastabas were unearthed in the vicinity of AS 54, and therefore both seasons of the year 2015 were devoted to their excavation. Two mastabas- AS 77 and AS 78- were built of mudbrick and contained two rows of shafts. Mastaba AS 78 was also extended to the south by an elongated annexe with five more shafts. Both tombs were probably built around the middle of the Fifth Dynasty. The pottery found in some of the shafts points to a long-time process of burial activity in both structures. It took place at least until the middle of the Sixth Dynasty. The cultic pottery provides evidence of mortuary activity until the end of the Old Kingdom. The westernmost mastaba, AS 76, differed from the other two structures in that was constructed from limestone. The core of the mastaba contained one shaft behind the northern undecorated false door, a decorated chapel with a beautiful false door, and a serdab behind it. It was built for a judge whose name was Kaisebi. The original mastaba (AS 76) was later enlarged by a new structure to the east (AS 76b), which consisted of two shafts, and a corridor running along them and leading to another chapel with undecorated false door. The evidence points to two owners of the two parts. The original mastaba was built for Kaisebi, the additional structure to the east for his son (?) Ptahwer whose name was found in several graffiti on the walls of the extension. According to a preliminary analysis the shaft and burial chamber of Kaisebi still awaits excavation in the largely disturbed area between Shaft 1 and his decorated chapel.

11

Hrobka muže bez tváře. Předběžná zpráva o výzkumu hrobky Anchirese (AS 98), inspektora kadeřníků královského paláce

72%

Dulíková V., Bárta M., Odler M., Peterková Hlouchová M.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2018

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issue 20

12-26

EN

During the autumn season of 2016, the tomb of an inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, Ankhires (AS 98), commenced excavation. The works were finished in the autumn season of 2017. In the architecture of the mastaba, two building phases were detected. Its cultic places were accessible from the north. A corridor chapel, where two levels of mud floor, a possible mud brick altar and a northern niche in the western wall were uncovered, leads to Room 2, giving access to abundantly decorated Room 1 with polychrome reliefs in at least three registers. The wall decoration of the funerary chapel was largely destroyed; only one block remained in situ and several fragments of the false door were found in the debris. In the core of the mastaba, only one shaft was uncovered. It was 11.75 m deep with a burial chamber at its bottom. An entrance into the burial apartment was in the western wall of the shaft. Neither the bottom of the shaft, nor the burial chamber were finished, though. This fact is fairly surprising taking into consideration the tomb’s intricate architecture. The tomb is preliminarily dated to the late Fifth Dynasty (Nyuserre – Djedkare). Interestingly enough, six late burials in wooden coffins (67–69/AS98/2017, 99–101/AS98/2017) from the end of the First Millennium BC were excavated by the western part of the entrance into the mastaba, and to the east of its eastern outer wall. The coffins were decorated very simply. However, the timber was very fragile and that is why the coffins had decayed, with the exception of two examples (67/AS98/2017 and 68/AS98/2017). In front of the eastern outer wall, three faience amulets were found (96/AS98/2017, 103/AS98/2017, 105/AS98/2017). These might be related to the late burials.

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Archaeological excavation of tomb AC 31 in Abusir Centre. A preliminary report

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Krejčí J.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2016

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issue 17

12-23

EN

The article deals with the results of the archaeological excavation of tomb AC 31, which is located in Nakhtsare’s cemetery, at the southern edge of the royal necropolis of Abusir. The tomb, built during the second half of the Fifth Dynasty, was destroyed and deprived of its decoration by tomb- and stone robbers to the extent that any ascription to a certain person is not possible. On the other hand, a relatively large part of its burial equipment was preserved.

13

The first fall of the Pharaonic state

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Myśliwiec K.

Nauka

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2009

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issue 4

PL

Pharaonic Egypt blossomed during three periods called Old-, Middle- and New Kingdom. The first of these (ca. 2650-2150 B.C.) was the time when the greatest pyramids, tombs of subsequent pharaohs, were built. This was possible thanks to a perfect organization of the country’s hierarchic administration. With time, systematically growing dynasties of noblemen became so powerful that they could compete with subsequent Kings. This led to political and social conflicts that became particularly dramatic in the times of Old Kingdom’s last (5th and 6th) dynasties. Many symptoms of progressing disintegration of the Egyptian state have been recorded in the tombs of 6th Dynasty noblemen discovered recently by Polish archaeologists in Saqqara, west of the pyramid of Djoser. The article summarizes these discoveries with respect to the country’s political, social and moral decline, which finished with the first collapse of cental power.

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Tomb at Abusir South from a time of change belonging to Ankhires, inspector of hairdressers of the Great House (AS 98)

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Dulíková V., Bárta M., Peterková Hlouchová M., Sůvová Z.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2018

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issue 21

3-33

EN

A new tomb (AS 98) of Ankhires, inspector of hairdressers of the Great House, was excavated at Abusir South in the autumn seasons of 2016 and 2017. The stone-built mastaba is preliminarily dated to late Fifth Dynasty, from the reign of Nyuserre to Djedkare. It has an unusual architectural plan, consisting of a corridor chapel, Rooms 1 and 2, an L-shaped chapel, two serdabs and Shaft 1. It was obviously built in two phases. The extension gave the mastaba the area of 413 m2 . In view of several facts, the tomb represents a new phenomenon not only at the Czech archaeological concession but also at the Memphite necropolis. It was surrounded by several structures including tombs (AS 101, AS 102), a technical(?) structure (AS 100) or a cultic installation (AS 99), which were also partly excavated. The work has brought to light many interesting finds, being it remains of the original wall decoration, remains of wooden statues or ecofacts. An analysis of the animal bones assemblage is also incorporated in the present study.

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The tombs of Kaisebi (AS 76) and Ptahwer (AS 76b) at Abusir South

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Dulíková V., Jirásková L., Vymazalová H., Arias Kytnarová K., Havelková P.

Pražské egyptologické studie (Prague Egyptological Studies)

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2017

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issue 19

3-26

EN

The excavations at Abusir South have already uncovered many tombs that have added valuable information to the general knowledge of the development of the Old Kingdom society, its burial and funeral habits, and last but not least social relations and their impact on the lives of ancient Egyptian officials. One of the latest discoveries is the tomb of “the elder of the judicial hall”, Kaisebi (AS 76), and the adjoining tomb of Ptahwer (AS 76b), which are located to the south of the anonymous mastaba (AS 54), lying on the most prominent spot of the whole Abusir South area. Kaisebi and Ptahwer built their tombs between this huge mastaba (AS 54) and a recently discovered 18.5 m long ship, both dated to the end of the Third Dynasty. Tomb AS 76 was constructed in two phases in the course of the late Fifth and Sixth Dynasties. The first one consisted of a rather small rectangular mastaba with a chapel, a northern niche, a serdab, and two shafts. The cruciform chapel of Kaisebi’s mastaba with colourful wall paintings contains a well-preserved false door in situ. Later on, the original structure was enlarged by an annexe (AS 76b) attached to the eastern wall of AS 76, which included another offering place and two burial shafts.

Refine search results

Djedkare’s pyramid complex: Preliminary report of the 2016 season

The tomb of Khuwy at Djedkare’s royal cemetery at South Saqqara. Preliminary report on the 2019 spring season

Some newly uncovered blocks from the tomb of Rashepses at Saqqara

Exploration of structures AS 66 and AS 69 in Abusir South: Preliminary report on the 2015 and 2016 seasons

A preliminary report on the excavations of tomb AS 91 at Abusir South (autumn season 2016)

Some remarks on the dating of 12 Old Kingdom tombs at Giza

Největší z lékařů : Hrobka Šepseskafancha, lékaře Horního a Dolního Egypta

Objev pohřební komory hodnostáře Nefera

No “painting by numbers”. Khuwy’s polychrome wall decoration at Djedkare’s royal cemetery

Jižní Abúsír – predběžná zpráva o výzkumu v roce 2015. Kaisebiho hrobka a okolí (AS 76-78)

Hrobka muže bez tváře. Předběžná zpráva o výzkumu hrobky Anchirese (AS 98), inspektora kadeřníků královského paláce

Archaeological excavation of tomb AC 31 in Abusir Centre. A preliminary report

The first fall of the Pharaonic state

Tomb at Abusir South from a time of change belonging to Ankhires, inspector of hairdressers of the Great House (AS 98)

The tombs of Kaisebi (AS 76) and Ptahwer (AS 76b) at Abusir South