Saqqara: seasons 2012 and 2013/2014/ Appendix: Conservation work in Saqqara (2012 and 2014)

Abstract

After having finished the excavation in a zone located west of the Step Pyramid andspanning the area between the pyramid enclosure wall and the eastern border of the Dry Moat, thePolish–Egyptian mission started a new project aiming at a complex investigation of the Dry Moat.A geophysical survey of the area and excavations during these two campaigns focused on the east andwest rock-hewn walls of the Moat, thus completing earlier research done in this part of the excavationfield. A further part of the Upper Necropolis, containing simple burials from the Ptolemaic period,was unearthed and the exploration of the tomb inscribed for Ikhi/Mery and his namesake son wascontinued. Clearing the facade of the latter led to the discovery of another funerary structure cut inthe rock below the general’s tomb. The floor of the upper tomb turned out to be the ceiling of thelower one. Preparations for the exploration of the new structure were made in 2014.

Keywords

• West Saqqara
• Old Kingdom
• Ptolemaic period
• Dry Moat
• Step Pyramid
• Ikhi/Mery