Five Years' Explorations at Thebes: A Record of Work Done 1907-1911 by The Earl of Carnarvon and Howard CarterCarnarvon, George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, Earl of
History
Five Years' Explorations at Thebes: A Record of Work Done 1907-1911 by The Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter
Carnarvon, George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert, Earl of
Altogether about 11,000 square metres of débris were cleared from the
Birâbi site and, of course, many miscellaneous antiquities were brought
to light in the course of the excavation. On the débris and rubbish that
had collected above the ruins of the ‘Valley’-Temple were many vaulted
graves, built of mud bricks; these, however, proved to have been
plundered without exception. Under their floors were generally placed
one or more amphorae which had been used for storing grain, water, and
cakes, no doubt for the welfare of the deceased. One vase was sealed
with clay and contained two well-preserved Demotic papyri, comprising
deeds of sale, executed under Ptolemy Epiphanes; these documents, and a
hoard of copper coins of Ptolemies III and IV, also found here, enable
us to date the vaulted tombs to the Ptolemaic period.
Below these graves on the north-west corner of the site, and on the same
level as the upper court of the ‘Valley’-Temple, we unearthed paving
slabs bearing marks of columns, with, beneath the corner of these
substructures, a foundation deposit of Rameses IV. This, fortunately,
enabled us to differentiate the building from the earlier temple; but we
have as yet no further clue as to its nature, except that it was of
stone quarried from the Dêr el Bahari temple of the Queen.[4]
The third site which we worked was along the northern slope between the
north-eastern foot hills of the Dêr el Bahari valley and the Queen’s
temple.
[Illustration: FIG. 7. VOTIVE CAKE-OFFERING.]
Along the face of the cliff here are the rock-cut tombs of the great
nobles of the Early Middle Kingdom, and lower down are some graves of
their retainers. These tombs had been re-used at the time of the Priest
Kings, and were afterwards again violated. Then at a later period they
were used for interments of Saite date, and, lastly, they served as
dwelling-places for the Copts.
Out of the fifteen locations investigated by us only one (No. 5) gave
any reward, and here we found undisturbed burials of a poorish class of
people belonging to late Saite times.
[Illustration: FIG. 8. CHERT CHISELS AND HAMMERS.]
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