This fact was first ascertained in 1910, and in that year twelve tombs of this necropolis were opened. Their exploration was continued in 1911, when four more were revealed, and three out of the four were thoroughly investigated. All the graves examined during the two seasons had had their original burials previously pillaged: firstly, at a period not long after their origin, and certainly before the New Empire; and in certain instances a second time in the XVIIth or XVIIIth Dynasties, when some were re-used for odd burials. These successive plunderings gave access to the white ants, the worst of all the enemies the explorer has to contend with. Often when a chamber is first entered its contents seem in comparatively good preservation, but on the slightest touch or movement they fall into a thousand fragments, their substance being riddled by these tiny insects. The positions and plans of these tombs are shown in the Plan and Survey, Pl. XXX. _Corridor Tomb 24._ This was the first and most spacious among those opened in 1910. It had no less than eight chambers, a long passage, an open court, and a pit. It was only from the remains of funereal débris, discovered in the rubbish of an open depression in the rock (i. e. the court), that it was recognized that an early and violated tomb was in the course of being revealed. These fragments were:-- 1. The cross-bars of an _Angarib_ (bedstead made of plaited rope on a wooden frame supported by four legs). 2. The greater part of a wooden model boat of uncommon design. 3. A small piece of wood with beautiful cornelian inlay upon it from a coffin (?). 4. Broken pieces of cartonnage painted and gilded. 5. A part of the end of a square coffin, inscribed and giving the name [Illustration: hieroglyph] ‘Ankhu’. 6. Another coffin board, inscribed with coloured hieroglyphs, reading--[Illustration: hieroglyph] giving the name ‘Khety’. 7. A broken arrow-head of flint with serrated edges. 8. Pieces of leather sandals, pottery, and a portion of the neck of a jar with [Illustration: hieroglyph] Men-hetep written upon it. 9. A scribe’s palette with two reed brushes (Pl. XLV. 3). 10. The hind half of an exquisitely made frog in glazed steatite, and the fore part of a lion in faience.[24] When cleared enough to be entered the interior of the tomb presented a scene of utter despoliation. Its chambers were strewn with rubble mingled with bones, skulls, and tomb furniture, shattered and burnt, which only too well corroborated those traces of the ravages which had been found outside. In the central chamber was a burial--a wood dug-out coffin, anthropoid in form, the lid bound at head and shins with rope. Several days were spent in carefully searching the remains in this tomb, and by sifting the sand many times favourable results were obtained. These results are recorded below--