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Pyramids of Giza: Excavations and Tombs
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Tombs around the Pyramids It was a privilege to be buried near the Pharaoh. Tombs were probably given as rewards by the Pharaoh. A small village of mastaba tombs was created beside the Pyramid of Cheops / Khufu. Many of the tombs are open for touring. Tombs that can be seen are the tombs of : Qar, Idu, Queen Meresankh III, Khufukhaf, Iasen, Kaemsnkh, and Imery |
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The cemetary for the modern residents of Giza and Nazlet are nestled below the mastabas of the Old Kingdom. The Pyramid of Chepheren / Khafra towers over the the old and new tombs. A tour of the plateau surrounding the pyramids by horse or camel provides wonderful perspective. |
Mastaba Tombs
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The mastaba tombs are so named because they resemble the benches outside shops in the markets. Mastaba is an Arabic word. The mastaba tombs beside the Pyramids were laid out on a grid, providing laneways for access to the tombs. |
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Each mastaba tomb had at least one shaft burial. The mummys in their mummy cases were lowered into the shaft and grave goods were placed around them. Then the shaft was filled with stones to prevent looting and vandalism. The tombs also had other functions in addition to burial. |
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The tombs also had a chapel that was accessed from the outside. These were often decorated. Offerings to the spirit of the deceased were left by their decendants. An additional feature was a Serdab room and statue. This room was created inside the tomb and was completely enclosed. Inside was a statue of the deceased. The statue was lined up to be opposite a small opening in the wall between the room and the chapel. In that way the spirit of the deceased could see the activities in the chapel and presumably the decendents could peek into the room and see the statue of their ancestor by flickering torchlight. One of the most famous Serdab statues is that of King Djoser at Saqqara. His Serdab was a small building beside the Step Pyramid. |
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The Village of the Pyramid Builders
Excavations are currently proceeding on the Village of the Pyramid Builders. Just as the workmen's village at Deir el Medina at Luxor, the pyramid builders were housed nearby, as were the administrators who served as overseers of the construction. Tombs, bakeries, warehouses and other buildings have been uncovered. |
"The workmen at Giza who were accommodated in the dormitories, sleeping close together, numbered as many as 2,000 and they ate in a pillared hall the remains of which were found by Mark Lehner to the east of the galleries. To the north of the workmen's camp is an artisan village where the technicians were housed with their families. The discovery of this village at Giza shows that each artisan, draftsman, craftsman or sculptor lived in a house that consisted of one room in which to store his material and a court to do his work in daylight. Attached to this area were sleeping quarters, a reception area and cooking quarters. They also had storage rooms for grain and other supplies. Workmen wore a loincloth and they may have covered their heads with cloth as well. They woke up before sunrise to the sound of an overseer banging a drum. One can imagine how the overseer of each gang would check the names of the workmen and report if one was sick or absent." Zahi Hawass, Al-Ahram Weekly on-line, Issue 687. Articles on the continuing excavation: Illustrated article by Dr. Hawass Pyramid shaped tombs of Workers found Discovery of the Administration Building for Workers Supervision
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