Preliminary report on archaeological activities on the Late Period shaft tomb necropolis in Abusir, mainly the tomb of Wahibremeryneith (AW 6)

Abstract

In a group of large shaft tombs situated in the western part of the ancient Egyptian necropolis at Abusir and dating to late Twenty sixth Dynasty or early Twenty seventh Dynasty, a unique embalming cache has been unearthed. With altogether 370 large pottery storage jars and a number of smaller artefacts it certainly belongs to the largest finds of its kind in not only the area of the pyramid fields, but in the entire Egypt. All those vessels were found in a shaft (measuring 5.3 × 5.3 m) adjacent to a huge burial structure AW 6. Here, the vessels were subsequently laid in altogether 14 clusters, situated at depths from 4 to 12 m and adjoining the sides of the shaft in turns to form a huge spiral. In the uppermost group of the vessels, moreover, four inscribed canopic jars made of limestone were found, all of them empty and clearly unused. According to the texts inscribed on them, the canopic jars belonged to certain Wahibremeryneith, son of the Lady Irturut. Although a number of dignitaries of such a name are known from this period, none of them can be identified as the owner of this tomb. Judging from the dimensions and arrangement of his tomb, he must have belonged to the highest dignitaries of his times, together with his neighbours in the cemetery – Udjahorresnet, Iufaa and Menekhibnekau.

Keywords

• abusir
• late period
• shaft tomb
• embalming cache
• wahibremeryneith