On the Early Old Kingdom Monuments from the Slope of Abusir-South Hill, Egypt

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  • エジプト, アブ・シール南丘陵斜面から出土した古王国時代初期の遺構について
  • エジプト アブ シール ミナミキュウリョウ シャメン カラ シュツド シタ コ オウコク ジダイ ショキ ノ イコウ ニ ツイテ

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The Institute of Egyptology at Waseda University has been conducting excavations at the top of a hill situated in Abusir-south since 1991. The work has revealed a mud-brick structure of the middle 18th dynasty and a stone monument belonging to Prince Khaemwaset, the fourth son of Ramesses II.<br>Since 2001, excavations have been extended to the slope of the outcrop and have exposed two rock-cut subterranean chambers (AKT01 and AKT02) and a layered stone structure.<br>The construction technique of the layered stone structure—the use of local limestone and mortar, the inclined masonry, and a layered feature—shows a close similarity to that of the early Old Kingdom step pyramids. It is supposed that the structure was built in the same period. By the traces of artificial cutting on the slope, the probable location of the northeast corner of the structure could be determined. The structure was a rectangular plan and probably a platform or a step terrace rather than a step pyramid, in appearance.<br>Finds from the east chamber of the AKT02 were dated to the Early Dynastic Period and the early Old Kingdom. The blocking system, a stone porticullis applied to the vertical shaft, is known from the Third Dynasty to the early Fourth Dynasty, so Chamber AKT02 is thought to have been dug in the early Old Kingdom period.<br>Both the layered structure and AKT02 are likely to have been constructed as part of the same unit during the early Old Kingdom period. Furthermore, when the reason why the wadi might have been chosen for the place of the monuments is considered, it is clear that it is possible that the plans for both monuments were drawn up at the same time.

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