The mastaba of the chief physician, Nfr-Hr-PtH (AS 65)

Abstract

During the fall season in 2016, the Czech Institute of Egyptology continued its field work at Abusir South. The western part of mastaba AS 65 belonging to the chief physician, Neferherptah (end of Fifth/beginning of Sixth Dynasty), was cleared and documented. One aim of the work was to clarify the relationship of AS 65 to AS 31 and an as yet unexcavated mud brick mastaba to the east. During this work, a third shaft was discovered in AS 65 situated between Shaft 1 in the south and Shaft 2 in the north. This shaft was probably the latest in the sequence of building Neferherptah’s tomb, but it was never used for a burial. Neferherptah is the latest of the physicians found in this part of the cemetery thus far (cf. Ptahhotep, Shepeseskafankh) and his tomb reveals a complex building history, which is detailed in this contribution.

Keywords

• Abusir South
• graffiti
• Fifth Dynasty
• Old Kingdom
• chief physician
• serdab
• tomb building