Direction
Yann Tristant (Senior Lecturer, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia)
How Eveha Participates
Archaeological physical anthropology
Location
Egypt
(© Mission archéologique de Dendara)
The excavation directed by Yann Tristant focused on completing the study of the sector located east of the so-called Abu Suten mastaba, continuing the work carried out during the previous mission, as well as the sector north and east of the Abu Suten mastaba, which had remained intact following the excavations of Petrie and Fisher.
The northern part of the sector excavated in 2017 yielded a group of small pit tombs associated with mastaba M1357, north of shaft Sh1321. These pits were partially excavated by Fisher, who left behind the skeletons he discovered—some completely disarticulated, others still in anatomical connection for the lower body. The excavation of this group of seven pits is characterized by bodies buried in a contracted position on their side, with no particular orientation, placed on mats or in baskets. Traces of fabric indicate the bodies were wrapped in textile envelopes (shrouds?). No grave goods are directly associated with these tombs. Material found on the surface and in the lower fill of the pits suggests an Old Kingdom date (4th Dynasty).
To the east of this group, mastaba M1364 measures 19 m long by 10 m wide. Oriented southwest/northeast, it contains two square shafts: one measuring 2 m per side and 5 m deep to the south, the other 1.8 m per side and 5 m deep to the north. In both cases, the burial chamber was located south of the shaft. Explored by Fisher in the early 20th century, they yielded no in situ material. Ceramics collected on the surface indicate a 4th Dynasty date, confirmed by the presence of a cruciform chapel southeast of the mastaba.
North of the Abu Suten mastaba, beneath the spoil heaps from Petrie and Fisher’s excavations, a small monument consists of a square shaft bounded by a brick rim. To the east, a low wall consisting of a single course of bricks defines an earthen-floor chapel containing a limestone basin in its southern part. The shaft could not be completely cleared. Filled with homogeneous sand without potsherds down to a depth of 3 m, the following two meters yielded eight bodies—two adults and six children—deposited lying on their backs, against the shaft walls for the immatures and across the shaft for the adults. The dating of these individuals’ deposition is not yet certain. The structure’s location, the chapel type, and the stone basin suggest an Old Kingdom date, likely contemporary with neighboring tombs. However, the artifacts discovered in the shaft consist of a New Kingdom assemblage (beer jars, beakers, and bowls with black-painted rims), highly fragmented, most likely originating from a burial of that period located in a lower level not yet excavated, disturbed by the later deposition of these bodies.
Further east, the small mastaba M1403 measures 9.5 m long by 5 m wide. It is aligned with the west wall of the Abu Suten mastaba. This mastaba contains two shafts, one to the north and one to the south. Due to time constraints, only the southern shaft was excavated this year. Looted, it contained in the western burial chamber the remains of an individual deposited in a contracted position on their side in a wooden chest. The beer jars placed alongside the northern wall of the chamber are of a type known for the 6th Dynasty. On the surface, within the mastaba’s demolition layer, several burials have been identified and will be excavated during the next mission.
The largest funerary monument identified this season is located west of the Abu Suten mastaba. Largely destroyed—perhaps to build the Abu Suten mastaba itself, according to the type of bricks found in both structures—M1428 consists of a mud-brick enclosure preserved only in a single course and often partially, outlining a rectangular space 18 m long by 12 m wide, oriented the same way as Abu Suten. Only the west, north, and east walls are partially preserved. A stone basin located west of the east wall may indicate the presence of a chapel, now destroyed. No shafts were identified within the space bounded by the walls. However, a sloping passage (descenderie) was noted to the north, offset from the superstructure, reminiscent of tomb M1268 located east of the area. The subterranean part of this tomb will be excavated during the next season.
All skeletons were studied on-site and in the laboratory according to field anthropology techniques. Ceramics and small finds are currently under study. The next mission will be dedicated to the excavation of tombs M1403 and M1428 to complete the so-called Abu Suten area.
