Chamber (A)had its doorway completely closed with flat mud-bricks, and the outer surface smeared over withTaflestucco (Pl. LVII, above the coffin to the left), which was stamped in numerous places with a seal giving theNebtinameImage not available: hieroglyphof Thothmes I (seePl. LVIII. 1).
Chamber (B)had its entrance blocked by a heap of stones piled before it and a coffin placed in front (Pl. LIX. 1).
Behind these bricked-up doorways was the greater mass of the burials that were stored in the tomb.
From whence all these burials came we have no evidence to show us at present, nor can we tell for certain the reason for their being concealed in this particular tomb. It is possible that, while clearing the ground for the great dromos of Dêr el Bahari, and during the preparation of its ‘Valley’-Temple, stray interments were disturbed, and that this tomb being so situated that it must necessarily be covered by the ‘Valley’-Temple, it was used by the pious officials of the Theban Necropolis as a place of concealment (see position of tomb in relation to the temple,Pl. XXX).
The seal impressions stamped upon the wall that closed chamber (A), we have just seen, give theNebtiname of Thothmes I, and thus we have a date for the time when some of the coffins were re-interred, and probably the date when the above monument must have been begun.
The scattered manner in which the coffins were placed in the differentchambers and passages of the tomb, and the fact that one of the chambers (C) had been re-opened and re-closed, tends to show that they were not placed in the tomb at one time, which is in favour of the theory that they really were disturbed interments stored there from time to time during the course of some work.
The latest date found among the objects of the whole cache was Thothmes III, and that name occurred only on one object—a small scarab (Pl. LXXII. 53 from burial No. 53, p. 80).
The two chambers in the corridor (A,B) contained eight and four separate coffins respectively; the hall (C) at the end of the passage had fourteen; in the pit (D), piled from bottom to top, were eighteen cases; and in the bottom crypt (E) was another batch of eight sarcophagi. Thus, counting also those lying about the open corridor and passage which numbered twelve, we obtain a total of sixty-four coffins. Besides these there were also twenty-eight other objects pertaining to funeral equipments.
Among these sixty-four miscellaneous wooden sarcophagi, some containing as many as four mummies in each, there were seven distinct types, and with them a great number of children’s coffins.
The types of the coffins of adults were: (1) Decorated rectangular, (2) plain rectangular, (3) ‘dug-out’, (4)Rîshi, (5) plain anthropoid, (6) semi-decorated anthropoid, and (7) decorated anthropoid of the New Kingdom. Each of these groups I have treated below, followed by a separate detailed description of each burial and object found in the tomb (see p. 70).
Decorated rectangular coffins, Nos. 7, 35, 59, 63 (for examples seePl. LX. 1). The coffins of this class are most probably contemporaneous with the Hyksos period. They are similar to the coffin in the Cairo Museum belonging to a certain Abdu, a contemporary of the last of the Hyksos kings.[43]Coffin No. 59 (p. 81) contained four mummies, two of which, and a basket containing a scarab, gave conflicting evidence to the above dating. The scarabs found on these two mummies bear the names of Thothmes I and II (Pl. LXXII. 59 A, D), and the one in the basket (Pl. LXXII. 59) according to Newberry is of a similar date. But the remaining antiquities, i.e. head-rest, biangular bowl, and black vase of foreign character (Pl. LXVIII. 59) may be of an earlier period, and perhaps belonged to one of the other two mummies found in this coffin, and to the original interment. Coffin No. 63 (p. 82), which contained two mummies, had somewhat similar objects (Pl. LXVIII. 63) to No. 59, but on one of the mummies, a woman, there were two cowroids (Pl. LXXII. 63 A) which could be referred to the Early XVIIIth Dynasty. No. 7 (p. 70) yielded nothing beyond the actual body, and gives no further help for or against dating this group to these Dynasties.
Plain rectangular coffins.Of these coffins there are three kinds, those with gable tops, those with flat tops, and those with open-grid bottoms (for examples seePl. LX. 2). The gable-topped coffins, Nos. 53, 62, 64, 65, 69, 71, 77, 83, withlids sometimes nearly semicircular in section, have always on the lid a longitudinal beam in the centre. These are probably of the same epoch as the other two kinds, but I am treating them here separately; they are very similar to some described by M. Lacau asSarcophages antérieurs au Nouvel Empirein his catalogue of that section of the Cairo Museum, more especially to No. 28030, which has exactly the same central beam and construction of lid. One is thus led to believe them to be of this period. Groups of objects found in some of them (for examples seePl. LXIX. 64, 71, and 83) could be anterior to the New Kingdom. On the other hand, Nos. 53 and 62 (Pls. LXIX. 53 and LXXII. 62 A, B) contained antiquities of the Early XVIIIth Dynasty to as late as the time of Princess Neferu-ra (Hatshepsût’s daughter) and Thothmes III (seePl. LXXII. 53). This last evidence is not absolutely contradictory, for we have examples of rectangular wooden coffins belonging to the New Kingdom. I am inclined, however, to assume that they have been re-used in these particular instances. No. 83 of the batch (p. 86) was covered intentionally with stone chippings and placed in a niche (Pl. LV. G) especially made for it. This gave us every reason to suppose it to be a burial made in the tomb when left open after destruction, and before it was used as a storehouse. The three pots (Pl. LXXIV. G) belonging to this coffin, and carefully placed behind it, give us a clue to the date of the stray pottery found mingled with the other coffins and lying on the floors of the passage and chambers of this great tomb, namely, the Intermediate Period.
The flat-topped coffins, Nos. 8, 15, 21, 22, 34, 36, 46, 48, 49, 55, 57, 75, 76, 78, 79, and 81 were often found to be made of scrap timber from other sarcophagi, and on the whole they perhaps incline to be later than the gable-topped coffins. The latest fixed date found on the objects in them was that of the Divine Wife, Hatshepsût, which occurred in that of No. 21, on a silver-mounted scarab ring (Pl. LXXII. 21). A head-rest found with it is certainly different in character to others found here, and it has engraved upon its stem the deities Bes and Taurt (Pl. LXVIII. 21). The head-rest found in coffin No. 57 (Pl. LXVIII. 57) has a short base, and it strikes one as being of a character between the earlier long-based types like No. 15 (Pl. LXVIII. 15) and that of No. 21. Burial No. 78 was furnished with the most complete group of objects (Pl. LXVIII. 78), and might be referred to the Early XVIIIth Dynasty. The last section of this group, the open-grid bottomed coffins, Nos. 50 and 52, are of smaller size (seePl. LX. 52). They recall some of the older coffins of the Early Middle Kingdom found at Aswân that have false bottoms of lattice work.[44]But these coffins constructed out of wood from older sarcophagi are seemingly later than the rest, for in one of them, No. 50, a necklace of beads and amulets (Pl. LXXIII. 50) is certainly of the beginning of the XVIIIth Dynasty.
‘Dug-out’ coffins.Nos. 37 and 58 (seePl. LXI. 58) are exceedingly rough, and cut out of tree trunks. One of them had its lid bound to its shell with rope. From a scarab (Pl. LXXII. 37) found in coffin 37 these ‘Dug-outs’ seem to belong to the beginning of the Second Theban Empire, though similar specimens found in some of the tombs recorded above were of a slightly earlier date.
Rîshi coffins.Nos. 2, 10, 11, 12, 60, 66, and 70 are a type peculiar to the Theban Necropolis, and only a limited number of these coffins have been discovered. They are namedRîshi[45]from the design painted upon them being composed of two large wings of many-coloured feathers that envelop the mummy form; for examples of those found here, seePl. LXII. 1.[46]They belong to the Intermediate Period. With the seven specimens discovered in this cache there were only a few beads, a cowroid seal (Pl. LXXII. 11), a bronze mirror, and a wooden head-rest (Pl. LXX. 70); and, with the exception of the cowroid seal which might be as late as the Early XVIIIth Dynasty, these objects do not seem later than the end of the Intermediate Period.
The richest interment of this type, in personal objects, was the one found by Prof. Petrie,[47]and the antiquities here were all characteristic of the time between the Middle Kingdom and the New Empire.
If one compares the facial type of these coffins, more especially the profiles, of all the examples known, it will be noticed (as Erskine Nicol pointed out to me) that they have a distinct and uniform character. And it is not without interest to note that the expression and peculiarity of face strongly resembles the so-called Hyksos heads discovered by Prof. Naville at Bubastis.[48]
Plain anthropoid coffins, Nos. 5, 29, 38, and 47 (Pl. LXI. 29). Only one coffin of this series contained any material that was of use for dating. This coffin, No. 47 (p. 79), with the mummy of a woman, had a scarab of the Hyksos Period, a cowroid in glass, and a glazed scaraboid bead of the Second Theban Empire (seePl. LXXII. 47). The two latter objects plainly show that the burial cannot be anterior to the Early XVIIIth Dynasty.
Semi-decorated anthropoid coffins, Nos. 6 and 68 (Pl. LXI. 6). These two specimens form a small group of their own. They are of very coarse workmanship, in design resembling those of the New Kingdom, but in the face they have a likeness to theRîshitype. They bear no names or inscriptions, and the only objects beside the mummies found in them were a few bead-bangles (Pl. LXXIII. 6), which give but little help towards their date. One is inclined to believe that they are coffins of the poorer people of the Early New Empire.
Decorated anthropoid coffins of the New Kingdom, Nos. 23, 24, 73, and 74 (Pls. LXII. 73, LXIII. 74). These coffins are painted white and embellishedwith a light and simple decoration. The finest specimen of the series was No. 23 (p. 74), but unfortunately it was found in very bad preservation, the rock ceiling of the tomb having fallen upon it. Coffin No. 24 (p. 74) contained, besides other antiquities, two scarabs of a much earlier period than the date of the coffin; one was of the XIIIth Dynasty and bears the name of a ‘Herald’ Ren-senb, the other is of the Intermediate Period and bears an enigmatical inscription (Pl. LXXII. 24). In coffin No. 73 (p. 84) was a small pot containing a kind of pomatum, which shows the use of such small pottery vessels so frequently found with burials of this cache. Coffin No. 74 (p. 85,Pl. LXIII) was of particular interest, it having depicted upon its sides, in place of the usual representations of the gods, scenes of burial ceremonies; and among the formulae written upon it occurs a variant form of the sign for Horus.[49]
A fifth coffin, No. 18 (Pl. LXII. 18), of simple blue decoration upon a white ground, might be placed in the same category, though perhaps it is of a slightly earlier date than the above four.
Two viscera boxes, Nos. 19 and 20, found at the feet of coffins 23 and 24, probably belong to them. One of the boxes, No. 20 (p. 73,Pl. LXI. 20), bore the name Ta-nezem, which occurred on coffin No. 24. At the feet of coffins 73 and 74 was another viscera box, No. 72.
Children’s coffins.These numerous small coffins were of exceedingly rough workmanship, without any decoration, and were of the following types: (1) Rectangular (Pl. LXI. 61, 80), (2) ‘dug-out’ rectangular (Pl. LXI. 41), (3) ‘dug-out’ anthropoid (No. 40), and (4) a type peculiar to itself (Pl. LXI. 42). No doubt their parents were among the many adult burials found in this cache, but we have nothing to tell us to which they belong. One of these small coffins, No. 84, had a small necklace (Pl. LXXIII. 84) like that found in 1910 in the Middle Empire tomb No. 24 (p. 53,Pl. XLV. H). Another, No. 31, contained (resting upon the shins of a mummy of a small child) a basket with the different kinds of necklaces represented inPl. LXXIIIunder No. 31.[50]On one of these necklaces a bead, cowroid in shape, bore the prenomen of Thothmes I. These necklaces did not appear to belong to the child, as a number of stone chippings were found mingled with them, which would suggest their having been gathered up from the ground and thrown into the coffin.
The method used in wrapping the mummies was found in general to be similar in all cases. They had always one shroud of linen laid over them, and sometimes one underneath, with an occasional one between the actual bindings of the body. The limbs were separately bound. In some instances the mummy was tied up with long twisted linen ropes bound round, spirally, from head to foot, and these, I believe, had been re-wrapped. Some of the mummies were bitumenized.
In theRîshiburials the fashion adopted closely resembled theRîshiinterment discovered by Professor Petrie (Petrie,Qurneh, pp. 7-9).
The scarabs found on the mummies, when worn as a ring, were always placed on the third finger of the left hand. A few beads sprinkled among the wrappings of the body was also found to be a not uncommon custom.
Among other objects pertaining to the funeral equipments found in this cache there were: No. 16, a rush-work basket containing articles of toilet use, and a scarab of Amenhetep I (Pls. LXIV, LXV. 16); No. 25, another similar basket containing what appears to be part of a scribe’s outfit (Pl. LXVI). Here a reed-case and palette illustrates the hieroglyphImage not available: hieroglyph, but unfortunately the small bladder for colour, shown in the centre of the sign, is missing in this case. Nos. 28, 63 A, and 92, musical instruments (Pl. LXXI); No. 28, a bird trap (Pl. LXIV); Nos. 26, 28, two writing tablets; and Nos. 88, 89, and 90, three panel stelae (Pls. LXXV to LXXVIII).
Catalogue of the Antiquities found in Tomb No. 37.[51]
Entrance.
1. A bunch of vine leaves and twigs lying upon the débris of the tomb.
North Wing.
2.Rîshi coffin.Shell, cut out of a stem of a tree, and left quite plain and rough. Lid, painted detail and feathering like No. 66, but in this case painted upon a yellow ground only. It bears no inscriptions, and the face is coloured yellow (Pls. LVII, LXII. 2).
Contents:—A well-preserved mummy of a tall man.
3. A very decayed mummy of a man, wrapped in a mat and bound with cord.
4. A group of broken pots and some vine leaves.
5.Plain anthropoid coffin.Like No. 29, but has its face painted yellow.
Contents:—A mummy of an old woman very loosely wrapped.
6.Semi-decorated anthropoid coffin.Lid and shell painted white with longitudinal and transverse bands in yellow. Face yellow. Head-dress yellow with blue lines. It bears no inscriptions (Pls. LIX, LXI. 6).
Contents:—Three mummies covered with a shroud. Two were lying side by side, the third was reversed with its head towards the feet of the others. (a) The reversed burial, mummy of a woman re-wrapped; (b) mummy of a woman; (c) mummy of a man with bead-bangles on left wrist, the beads were of dark violet glaze (Pl. LXXIII. 6).
7.Decorated rectangular coffin.The general ground colour is yellow, and the design painted upon it is in red, green, dark blue, and white. On the ends, the figures ofIsisandNephthyskneeling uponnebsigns aredepicted upon a white ground. The lid was tied on with ropes of Dôm palm-fibre (Pl. LX. 7).
Contents:—Mummy of an old man, reduced to a mere skeleton. Among the débris from the abdomen of the mummy was a bladder-stone.
8.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Mummy of a man covered with a sheet. Resting against the coffin was an earthenware pot (Pl. LXXIV. 8).
Central passage.
9. The base of a wooden head-rest (this was similar to those found in the coffins of this cache).
10.Rîshi coffin.Broken and in bad condition. It was made and decorated like No. 2.
Contents:—Mummy of a man very roughly wrapped.
11.Rîshi coffin.Shell, plain wood. Lid, the ground colour white and yellow, and the detail like No. 66. The longitudinal band for text down the front had no inscription (Pls. LVI, LXII. 11).
Contents:—Mummy of a woman lying flat on its back with the head turned towards the left. A small child’s mummy was resting on her feet. Among the débris at the bottom of the coffin were: (1) a few small beads of greenish blue faience; (2) a cowroid seal of green glazed steatite (Pl. LXXII. 11); in the hole pierced through the cowroid seal were remains of thread.
12.Rîshi coffin.Like No. 66 (Pl. LVI. 12).
Contents:—A scantily wrapped mummy of a man.
13.The frame of a wooden stool.This was leaning against the wall, and it rested upon the mutilated remains of a mummy (Pl. LVI. 13). With the débris of the mummy was (1) the greater portion of a large necklace of blue faience beads: the remainder of this necklace was found scattered upon the floor as far as the entrance of the hall at the end of the central passage (Pl. LXXIII. 13); (2) the mouth and nose of a mummy mask.
14.A mortar-bed.The mud mortar here (Pl. LVI. 14) appears to have been mixed for the second closing of the doorway of the hall (C); the first closing of this doorway was with aTaflemortar.
15.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Like No. 75, the coffin shows signs of rough handling, and had been broken to pieces.
Contents:—Mummy of a woman. By the left shoulder was a wooden head-rest broken into two pieces and the central portion of its stem missing (Pl. LXVIII. 15); on the third finger of the left hand was a blue glazed steatite scarab tied with string (Pl. LXXII. 15); and sprinkled in the linen wrappings were a few small beads of blue faience.
Hall (C).
16.An oval-shaped rush basket.This basket is finely woven and measures 50 cms. across its long axis. It shows traces of coloured strands interwoven into the mesh at intervals to form triangular markings, but the colour of these markings has deteriorated. The lid has a flange round its lower edge to fit into a corresponding rim or flange on the inner side of the mouth of the basket itself (Pl. LXIV. 16).
Contents:—A pair of bronze forceps for extracting hair (Pl. LXV); note the curved ends made expressly for that purpose.
A razor very finely wrought of copper, with two separate cutting edges. One edge or blade is slightly concave for shaving the convex surfaces of the head, face, and body; the other blade is of convex shape for shaving the concave parts, such as the arm-pits (Pl. LXV). The preservation is so good that the knife edges are still keen, and the prints of the ancient finger-marks are still visible upon its polished surfaces. It measures 18·5 cms. in length.
A hone of granular white stone for sharpening the razor (Pl. LXV).
A kohl-box made of cedar-wood (?). It is octagonal in shape, and has an ivory lid and base. The lid turns on a stud-headed wooden peg, and when closed it was held in place by an ivory bolt shot into copper staples. On the side of the box, slung in two copper staples, is the ebony kohl-stick. The total length is 7·9 cms. (Pl. LXV).
The handle and clasp of a fan made of wood (Pl. LXV).
A pottery bowl (Pl. LXV).
An ebony kohl-stick.
A pair of leather sandals (these were adhering to the bottom of the basket, and could not be removed).
A large round basket (Pl. LXIV, right-hand side of illustration).
A small round basket (Pl. LXIV, left-hand side of illustration).
The large round basket contained:
A kohl-pot of hard grey stone like aragonite, and a kohl-stick of ebony (Pl. LXV).
A bronze mirror made of copper, measuring in its maximum length 17 cms. (Pl. LXV): the handle had been coated with a white metal (silver?) to prevent corrosion.
A scarab made of green jasper and bearing the prenomen and nomen of Amenhetep I (Pls. LXV, LXXII. 16). It is round-backed and a fine specimen.
Some decayed locks of hair.
The smaller round basket contained:
A blue glazed steatite scarab of the Hyksos Period (Pls. LXV, LXXII. 16).
17.A chair and a stool.These were broken and tucked between the foot ofcoffin No. 18 and the wall (Pl. LXXI). The chair made of wood has a low square seat of rush-work mesh plaited upon a frame and supported by four square legs; the legs are strengthened by cross-bars. The slanting, curved, compound back is dowelled into the frame of the seat, and it is stayed by uprights which are continuous from the back legs; it also had (now missing) a central strut at the back. These uprights and the central strut were fixed to the back of the chair by means of ivory pegs. The principal constructive joints of the main body of the chair are strengthened by angle-pieces of carved bent wood, and these angle-pieces when exposed to view are ornamented by being composed of several kinds of wood. The top rail of the back (missing) appears from some of the remaining ivory pegs to have been made of ivory. It measures 41 × 52 cms. square, the seat 28 cms. high, and the top rail of the back must have been something like 75 cms. when perfect. The stool had a similar seat to the chair, and it also has similar strengthening bars between the legs. It stands 16 cms. in height, and measures 38 × 35 cms. square.
18.Decorated anthropoid coffin of the New Kingdom.Ground colour white; head-dress and bands for hieroglyphs blue. The inscriptions, written in black, with linear hieroglyphs of the Intermediate Period style, do not give any name (Pl. LXII. 18).
Contents:—Mummy roughly wrapped. The sex was difficult to ascertain.
19.Viscera box.Small square box painted white and of inferior quality. The interior, divided into two compartments by a central partition, contained matter wrapped in linen like the viscera of a mummy.
20.Viscera box.Painted white, with thede hetep setenformula upon the lid giving the nameImage not available: hieroglyphTa-nezem. Depicted upon the four sides of the box are human-headed canopic jars, with, written on either side, the usual formulae in vertical bands (Pl. LXI. 20). The interior, divided into four compartments, contained similar matter to No. 19 (see coffin No. 24).
21.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Like No. 75 (broken).
Contents:—Mummy of a man covered with a sheet. At the side of the left shoulder a wooden head-rest (Pl. LXVIII. 21), with, engraved upon its stem, the deitiesBesandTaurt. On the third finger of the left hand a scarab mounted on a silver ring (Pl. LXXII. 21). The scarab is round-backed, of green glazed steatite, and has inscribed upon its base the ‘Divine Wife, Hatshepsût’.
22.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Like No. 75 (broken).
Contents:—Mummy of a woman, decayed and fallen to pieces. In the débris traces of plaited hair and two red jasper scarabs (Pl. LXXII. 22).
23.Decorated anthropoid coffin of the New Empire.Ground colour white. Head-dress, blue striated with yellow lines. Face, yellow, with the eye-sockets of bronze, eyeballs of aragonite, and pupils of obsidian. Decoration, round the neck a collarette painted to represent rows of coloured beads, fringed with drop pendants, and with hawk-headed clasps. Below, over the breast, the vultureNekhebytand goddessNut. On either side, at the ankles, the jackalAnubisis represented resting on his pylon. At the feetIsisand at the headNephthys. There are three transverse bands round the body and one longitudinal band down the front, all of which contain the usual religious formulae with the owner’s nameImage not available: hieroglyphTahuti. On the sides of the shell, in the panels formed by the bands of hieroglyphs, are representations of the different gods facing legends dedicated to them. The lid was fixed to its shell by stud-headed wooden pegs.
Contents:—Mummy of a man with his hands crossed over the thighs. On the third finger of the left hand, attached by string, was a round-backed green glazed steatite scarab (Pl. LXXII. 23).
Beneath the coffin, and lying on the floor of the chamber, was a walking staff 142 cms. in length. The bark upon the stick was intact and it resembles that of cherry wood. The end was worn, and at the handle a natural projecting branch was trimmed so as to form a crutch.
24.Decorated anthropoid coffin of the New Empire.This coffin was similar to No. 23, but not so fine. The eyes were only painted, and the decoration varied by having the goddessNutalone below the collar, the absence of the two jackals on the sides of the ankles, andNephthyson the head. The legends, between the bands of formulae, referring to the gods had been added in black ink after the completion of the coffin. It bore the nameImage not available: hieroglyphAah-hetep, who was calledImage not available: hieroglyphTa-nezem (see viscera box No. 20).
Contents:—Mummy of a woman carefully wrapped, with the right arm across the breast, and the left arm resting at the side. She was covered with a sheet which when removed exposed two statuettes lying on either side of the knees of the mummy (Pl. LXVII. 2), and upon the shins a round shallow basket (Pl. LXIV. 24) containing a heart scarab made of unburnt steatite bearing an enigmatical inscription (Pl. LXXII. 24). On the left hand, tied with string to the third finger, were two scarabs: one, high-backed and of blue glazed steatite, bore the name of the ‘Herald Ren-senb’; the other, high-backed and of blue paste, had a wingedkhepersurmounted byRaengraved upon its base (Pl. LXXII. 24). Underneath the mummy was a very small basket containing three copper forceps and a kohl-stick.
The statuette found on the right side may be described as follows: Small portrait figure of a boy namedImage not available: hieroglyphAmenemheb, nude, and of electrum; dedicated by his father Tahuti[52]‘who makes to live his name’. It measures 13 cms. high, and stands upon a wooden pedestal which is inscribed. The work is that of a very good artist, showing great instinctive feeling and subtle modelling as well as delicacy. Though the actual finish of the detail is not carried to a very high pitch, this fact does not lessen its beauty, and a glance at the photographs (Pl. LXVII. 1 and frontispiece) will at once show its charm and high art sense. In the left hand is a lotus-bud with long and flowing stalk. The metal was cast and the figure worked upon after it was chilled. The statuette at first may seem attenuated, but any one who knows the youth of modern Egypt will at once recognize its truth.
The statuette found on the left side was in wood, of a boy namedImage not available: hieroglyphHu-uben-ef, and it was dedicated by his father Tahuti ‘who makes to live his name’. This figure stands 31 cms. in height, and is very cleanly cut, the work good, but of a different and perhaps not so high a standard as the metal figure of his brother. Nevertheless it is exquisitely rendered and shows a strong likeness to the other, particularly in the shape of the head. The pedestal is inscribed with the dedication, and mentions also a prayer forper-kheruofferings for theka. Traces of colour, red, are visible on the nude parts; the hair is coloured black, the eye-balls are painted white, the pupils, eye-lashes, and brows black (Pl. LXVII. 2).
25.An oval-shaped basket.This basket is similar in make to No. 16 and measures 40 cms. across its long axis. It is of coarser weaving and shows no signs of decorations (Pl. LXIV. 25). Some bituminous material had been spilt into it, and many of the objects it contained adhered to its inner side and were stuck together from that cause.
Contents (Pl. LXVI):—It seemed to have contained a scribe’s outfit, which was once probably complete, but many of the objects found in it were broken and parts of them were missing. These were: (1) a large reed case made of a section cut from the stalk of a thick rush. At the top this has a floral ornament made of four pieces of carved wood which are let into spaces cut in the sides at the end and bound in position by a strip of linen. The node or natural joint of the rush has been utilized for the bottom end, and the top end was stopped by a rag plug. In it werefound twenty-six thin reeds and a few seeds of a plant.[53](2) A small reed case made like the former one described above, but without top ornament. It enclosed fifteen thin reeds and similar seeds of a plant.[53](3) A wooden palette varying only from the common and well-known types by having three small oblong-shaped holes pierced diagonally through the side corners for strips of leather (?) for suspension. (4) A peculiar wooden instrument, mallet-like in shape: its use is unknown to me. There are on the small end indentations like marks that could be caused by tightly-bound string. (5) A rectangular oblong piece of hard wood. Its use is unknown to me; but it appears to be part of some instrument, as there are two holes in one side and another at the end. In all three holes there are ends of broken pegs. (6) A stick some 30 cms. in length. It seems to be the cross-bar of a pair of scales (note the hole and peg in the centre and peculiar notched ends). (7) A bag made of woven fibrous string. (8) A small linen bag; the mouth was drawn together by string in the same manner as purses of the present day. (9) A roll of leather, bound with strips of the same material. (10) A roll of linen (not shown in the Plate). (11) Very small fragments of papyrus which seem to have been torn from a small roll of papyrus (not shown in the Plate). (12) A clay figure of a cynocephalous ape (Thoth). This little creature was wrapped in linen. (13) Human-headed sphinx, cut out of a sheet of copper. (14) A large round piece of wax. (15) A tortoise-shell. (16) A miniature clay cup. A strip of linen was bound round the stem. (17) Model knuckle-bone in clay. (18) Some pieces of resinous material. (19) A small wooden peg. (20) A small amuletic figure in green glaze faience. (21) One large clay disk, four wax disks, and twelve disks of different sizes made of some black material. They appear to be weights:
26.A writing tablet.This tablet, made of wood and covered with stucco, with surface polished for writing, bore inscriptions on both sides. It was broken in two halves, measures 48 × 26·5 cms., and was found among the stones covering the floor of the chamber (see Chapter XIII by Dr. Möller).
27.Parts of a model five-stringed musical instrument.Similar to Nos. 28, 63 A, and 92 (seePl. LXXI, and for description No. 63 A).
28.A pottery pan containing various objects.(1) A model four-stringed musical instrument (Pl. LXXI. 28) made of sycomore wood, ebony, and ivory. (For further description see No. 63 A.) (2) A bird-trap (Pl. LXIV. 28) made of wood and of the following construction and mechanism:—Two flat boards cut semicircular and joined in the middle by a central broad bar of wood which is slightly longer than the diameter of the circle formed by the two semicircular boards; these three pieces of wood formed the floor of the trap. Upon the central bar, it will be noticed that there are two pairs of pillars, grooved on top, and a hole in the bar on the right and left side of each pair of pillars (seePl. LXIV). Strung over each pair of pillars were (now missing) several strands of catgut (?), with their ends passed through the holes on either side, and held at the back by short pieces of stick. By revolving these pieces of stick at the back the strands of catgut were twisted and brought to any degree of tension required, and thus by this method formed two spring-hinges. Fixed in these spring-hinges was a flexible piece of stick bent to form an arched bow (not shown inPl. LXIV), either end of the bow being passed through the strands of twisted gut at such an angle as to cause the bow to be pressed on to one half of the circular bottom of the trap (the position when closed). Attached to the bow and on the opposite half of the bottom of the trap was a net (see holes for this purpose and remains of net,Pl. LXIV. 28), sufficiently large to allow the capture of a bird. To open the trap, the bow would be pulled over to the side that the net is attached to. On this side, at the edge, there is a notch (seePl. LXIV. 28) for a pillar-catch which held the bow open. This catch was worked by a string through a hole beside it (seePl. LXIV. 28), which was passed underneath and brought up through a hole in the centre of the bottom of the trap (seePl. LXIV. 28),where the string was attached to a sensitive adjustment so placed that the movements of a bird touching it would detach it and cause the trap to close (i. e. the bow to spring into its original position on the opposite side). The wooden bow belonging to the trap was found sometime afterwards among a lot of stray wood that came from the tomb, and it was exactly as described above. (3) A mechanical toy bird made of wood (Pl. LXIV, right and left of trap). (4) Pottery bowl of red pottery full of a brown powdery substance. (5) A painted clay head of a bull. (6) A small round basket containing a blue faience kohl-pot. (7) A writing tablet like No. 26 (see Chapter XIII by Dr. Möller).
29.Plain anthropoid coffin.The outer surface of this coffin is painted white, with the features of the face roughly delineated in black (Pl. LXI. 29).
Contents:—Mummy of a girl.
30.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80.
Contents:—Skeleton of a baby.
31.Dug-out rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 41.
Contents:—Mummy of a child. In the wrappings covering the hair were some bone and cornelian beads like those found in coffin No. 78 given inPl. LXXII. 78. Resting on the feet of the mummy was a basket turned over and its contents spilt. The contents were several necklaces of many kinds of blue faience beads, of which examples are given inPl. LXXIII. 31. With them was a small blue faience kohl-pot of usual type. One of the cowroid beads bore the prenomen of Thothmes I, while others had hieroglyphic signs on them, including one which hadImage not available: hieroglyphupon its base.
32.A bunch of papyrus reeds.
33.A small obsidian unguent vase.This was found resting upon the chest of coffin No. 23.
34.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75 (broken).
Contents:—Mummy broken to fragments.
35.Decorated rectangular coffin.Smashed to pieces by the falling of the rock ceiling of the chamber. There were no traces of objects.
36.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Among the decayed remains of a mummy was a round-backed green glazed steatite scarab, bearing a very fine example of spiral pattern engraved upon its bezel (Pl. LXXII. 36).
37.Rectangular dug-out coffin.Similar to No. 58 (lid missing).
Contents:—Mummy of a woman. In the débris of the mummy, on the bottom of the coffin, was a round-backed green glazed steatite scarab (Pl. LXXII. 37).
38.Plain anthropoid coffin.Similar to No. 29.
Contents:—Mummy of a man. Lying on the bottom of the coffin was a blue faience scaraboid bead (Pl. LXXII. 38).
39.Parts of a frame of a wooden stool.Similar to No. 13.
40.Anthropoid dug-out child’s coffin.Painted white and very roughly made.
Contents:—Child’s skeleton.
Pit (D).
41.Rectangular dug-out child’s coffin.The shell was cut out of one block of wood, and for the lid a flat board was used. Wooden pegs at either end of the lid show that it once had head and foot pieces (P. LXI. 41).
Contents:—Mummy of a child.
42.Rectangular dug-out child’s coffin.This was of peculiar type. The block of wood from which it was made was cut in half diagonally, so that the lid and shell were of equal proportions. Some auxiliary pieces of wood had been let into the lid to strengthen it (Pl. LXI. 42).
Contents:—Skeleton of a baby.
43.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80.
Contents:—Skeleton of a very young child. In the shell of the coffin there were a few miniature blue faience beads.
44.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80. The lid was tied on with rope.
Contents:—Skeleton of a child.
45.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80.
Contents:—Mummy of a child.
46.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Mummy of a man.
47.Plain anthropoid coffin.Similar to No. 29. The lid was tied on with rope.
Contents:—Mummy of a woman, in bad condition and much decayed. In the débris there were some bone bead-bangles (for example seePl. LXXIII. 53); a blue glazed steatite scarab of the Hyksos period; a turquoise blue glass cowroid bead; and a blue faience scaraboid bead (Pl. LXXII. 47).
48.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Mummy of a man.
49.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Two mummies; one of a man, the other of a woman, lying head to feet. Among these remains were some bone and cornelian bead-bangles (for example seePl. LXXIII. 78).
50.Rectangular open-grid bottomed coffin.Similar to No. 52.
Contents:—Mummy of a half-grown child. The mummy was enveloped in reeds. Upon it were bone and cornelian bead-bangles (seePl. LXXIII. 78); a group of tubular barrel-shaped beads, coatedwith chips of glass and disk-shaped faience beads; also an amuletic necklace (Pl. LXXIII. 50). The beads of this amuletic necklace were made of cornelian, faience, and blue opaque glass; the amulets were flies, hawks, and symbolical knots, made of glazed and unglazed steatite, jasper, and faience, and the central pendant of gold. The original position of these objects upon the mummy it was impossible to ascertain.
51.Rectangular dug-out child’s coffin.Similar to No. 41.
Contents:—Mummy of a child. In the coffin, underneath the mummy, was a wooden throw-stick and a gold earring; the second gold earring was afterwards found at the bottom of the pit. The throw-stick, 42 cms. in length, is finely carved out of very hard wood, and it has a propeller-like twist.
52.Rectangular open-grid bottomed coffin.A plain wood rectangular coffin, with wooden bars at intervals in place of the boarded bottom (Pl. LX. 52).
Contents:—Mummy of a woman, bent, as it was too large for the coffin. On the third finger of the left hand, attached by string, were two jasper scarabs (Pl. LXXII. 52). One of the scarabs had a fish and lotus-flower engraved upon its bezel.
53.Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin.Similar to No. 62, but has no traces of paint.
Contents:—Mummy of a man. Beside the head, and resting on the bottom of the coffin, were:—(1) a small wood and ivory jewel-box (fallen to pieces); (2) an alabaster bowl in the shape of a cartouche; (3) a blue faience bowl; and (4) a pottery vase (Pl. LXIX. 53). The mummy had rotted away, and among the débris were:—(1) round-backed blue glazed steatite scarab, mounted in a gold funda, bearing on its base the name of the royal daughter, Neferu-ra (daughter of Queen Hatshepsût); (2) round-backed blue glazed scarab bearing the prenomen of Thothmes III; (3) round-backed green glazed scarab, mounted in gold funda, bearing a decorative pattern; (4) cowroid seal of glazed steatite (worn to brown) bearing a decorative pattern, and mounted in a gold funda; (5) high-backed scarab of dark green paste bearing a floral pattern, and mounted upon a copper-wire ring—the wire is threaded through the scarab and is passed through a small hole on the other end of the wire, flattened and pierced for the purpose, and it is held thus by being twisted round the wire a few times (Pl. LXXII. 53). Fallen out of the small jewel-box (mentioned above) there were three necklaces. One of them was a long string of violet faience beads (similar to No. 6,Pl. LXXIII); another was made up of plain bone beads (Pl. LXXIII. 53); and the third consisted of cornelian, violet faience, and gold beads, with amulets at intervals made of gold, silver, cornelian, and blue glass (Pl. LXXIII. 53).
54.A grey pottery vase(Pl. LXXIV. D), bearing a hieratic inscription (see Chapter XIII, by Dr. Möller).
55.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Two adult and one child’s mummy. Like the coffin they were very much broken. Among the remains were bone and cornelian beads, and an ivory bracelet (Pl. LXXIII. 55, on the plate incorrectly 85).
56.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80.
Contents:—Mummy of an infant.
57.Plain rectangular flat-topped coffin.Similar to No. 75.
Contents:—Three adult mummies, which, like the coffin, were broken. With them was a wooden head-rest (Pl. LXVIII. 57); a round-backed green glazed steatite scarab (Pl. LXXII. 57); and a few stray beads of cornelian, faience, and bone.
58.Rectangular dug-out coffin.The lid was tied on with rope (Pl. LXI. 58).
Contents:—Mummy of a man.
59.Decorated rectangular coffin.The colouring is similar to that of No. 7, except that instead of the two goddesses at either end there are geometrical drawings (Pl. LX. 59).
Contents:—Four mummies covered with a large shroud. At the head end of the coffin, and resting on the mummies, there were: (1) a black pottery vase; (2) a red pottery biangular bowl; (3) a wooden head-rest; (4) a basket containing four dôm nuts, and a vase which had in it a piece of crystal, and a round-backed green glazed steatite scarab (Pl. LXVIII. 59 andPl. LXXII. 59).
The four mummies, packed head to feet, were as follows:—
(a) Mummy of a woman with a scarab necklace (Pl. LXXII. 59 A); a bead necklace (Pl. LXXIII. 59); and some bead-bangles of bone and cornelian (for examples see No. 78,Pl. LXXIII). One of the scarabs upon the necklace bears the nomen of Thothmes I.
(b) Mummy of a child.
(c) Mummy of a man wrapped in very coarse linen.
(d) Mummy of an adult (sex difficult to ascertain).
With the mummy there was a walking-staff; in the abdomen were some dôm nuts, and a group of scarabs (Pl. LXXII. 59 D), which appear, from the string that some were still threaded upon, to have once formed a necklace. In the wrappings near the neck of the mummy were some faience and bone beads. One of the scarabs bore upon its bezelImage not available: hieroglyphNeb-ded-Ra, encircled by a coil pattern (cp. Scarab, B.M., No. 37730); another had the prenomen of Thothmes II, above a crouching jackal; and a third one has theHor-nubname of Thothmes I.
Chamber (E).
60.Rîshi coffin.Similar to No. 11, but of very rough workmanship.
Contents:—Mummy of a woman scantily wrapped in coarse linen.
61.Rectangular child’s coffin.Similar to No. 80.
Contents:—Mummy of an infant.
62.Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin.The outer surface of this coffin is covered with a thin paint of pinky hue. The lid is slanting on either side, has a longitudinal beam in the centre, and an upright head and foot piece on its ends (Pl. LX. 62).
Contents:—Three mummies: two were of adults lying side by side, the third of a child placed at their feet. The child’s mummy had upon its neck an amuletic necklace composed of round and barrel faience beads of red and green colour with pendant amulets of the same material, and in the centre a brown stone turtle; on the arms were bead-bangles composed of bone and faience beads; and lying near the hands, tied upon a piece of string, were two scarabs and a cowroid seal (Pl. LXXII. 62 A). One of the adult mummies had round its neck a cornelian bead necklace (Pl. LXXIII. 62); and upon the third finger of the left hand a green glazed steatite scarab (Pl. LXXII. 62 B).
63.Decorated rectangular coffin.The coloration of the detail, painted upon a strawberry-coloured ground, is similar to No. 7. On the end panels, the goddessesIsisandNephthysare standing with the arms upheld (Pl. LX. 63).
Contents:—Two mummies of a man and a woman, lying side by side, and covered with a shroud. Beside the head of the woman were two grey pottery vases, and a larger one in black pottery; a dark blue faience bowl, and a wooden kohl-pot (Pl. LXVIII. 63). The woman had within the wrappings of the head a broken ivory comb (Pl. LXVIII. 63); and near the hands, lying loosely, were two cowroid seals (Pl. LXXII. 63 A). The man had no ornament upon him.
63 A.A four-stringed musical instrument(Pl. LXXI. 63 A). Theneck,back, andbellyare made of one piece of sycomore wood. Thebellyis hollowed out like a trough, and has its two sides curved slightly inwards at the middle, thus forming a kind of waist (this was probably due to the tension of the strained skin that covered it). Across thebelly, longitudinally, is the combinedtail-pieceandbridgeto which the lower fixed ends of the strings are attached: the tapering end of this combinedtail-pieceandbridgewas inserted into a socket at the juncture where thebellyandneckjoin, and its lower and broader end was bound to a protuberance, made for the purpose, at the extreme end of thebelly. Near the top end of theneck, and into the back of it, the fourkey-pegsfor receiving the strings are inserted. The strings themselves (their lower ends being fixed to the combinedtail-pieceandbridge),which were passed along the side of theneckand twisted round thekey-pegs, had their upper ends brought over theneckand slipped under the tightened portion of the strings which pressed against the side of theneck(see Fig. 92,Pl. LXXI). For asounding-board, skin was stretched over the whole of thebelly, with an aperture left at the juncture of thebellyandneckto allow the combinedtail-pieceandbridgeto be inserted into its socket. The total length of the instrument is 1·37 metres. This particular specimen I believe to have been an actual instrument, while the others, Nos. 27, 28, and 92, were merely small models. With these models there are slight variations in the construction, but as the main idea is the same it is unnecessary to describe them.
64.Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin.Similar to No. 62, but has no traces of colour upon it.
Contents:—Mummy of a man sewn up in a shroud. Near the head a wooden head-rest; by the side a walking-staff; and under the head, wrapped in a piece of linen, were (1) a wooden kohl-pot of trefoil section, (2) a bronze razor and granular stone hone,[54](3) a cord belt and loin cloth (Pl. LXIX. 64). On the third finger of the left hand was a blue glazed steatite scarab, mounted on gold funda: this was tied with string (Pl. LXXII. 64).
65.Plain rectangular gable-topped coffin.Similar to No. 62, but with no traces of colour.
Contents:—Two mummies of a man and woman, lying head to feet, and covered by a shroud. The mummy of the woman had a broken alabaster bowl (Pl. LXIX. 65) lying at the feet. The mummy of the man appeared to be re-wrapped, and had nothing on it.
66.Rîshi coffin.Shell—cut out of a tree trunk, and painted with black, red, and white bands. Lid—the detailed feather-decoration is painted in red, green, and dark blue on a white and yellow ground. The face is yellow. The longitudinal band down the centre has no inscription (Pl. LXII. 66).
Contents:—Mummy of a man.
67.Rectangular child’s coffin.This coffin had been enlarged, and the lid, which was made of old boards, was tied to pegs at either end of the shell.
Contents:—Mummy of a child, with knees bent.
Chamber (A).
68.Semi-decorated anthropoid coffin.Similar to No. 6 (Pl. LVIII. 68).
Contents:—A skeleton of a young man with hardly any traces of mummification visible.