THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID
Hawass, Z. (2021). THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID. EKB Journal Management System, 6(3), 83-107. doi: 10.21608/jguaa2.2021.74038.1056
Zahi Hawass. "THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID". EKB Journal Management System, 6, 3, 2021, 83-107. doi: 10.21608/jguaa2.2021.74038.1056
Hawass, Z. (2021). 'THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID', EKB Journal Management System, 6(3), pp. 83-107. doi: 10.21608/jguaa2.2021.74038.1056
Hawass, Z. THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID. EKB Journal Management System, 2021; 6(3): 83-107. doi: 10.21608/jguaa2.2021.74038.1056

THE DISCOVERY OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF DJOSER AND THE RESTORATION OF THE STEP PYRAMID

Journal of the General Union of Arab Archaeologists
Article 7, Volume 6, Issue 3, November 2021, Page 83-107  XML PDF (1.84 MB)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/jguaa2.2021.74038.1056
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Author
Zahi Hawass email
Former Minister of Antiquities, Cairo, EGYPT
Abstract
  [Ar]   
اكتشاف تابوت الملك زوسر وترميم الهرم المدرج                                                                                                             
يعد هرم الملك نتري خت المدرج والمعروف أيضًا باسم زوسر، أقدم بناء حجري ضخم في مصر. ولكن تعرضت واجهات الهرم للكثير من الأضرار الجسيمة. علاوة على ذلك، أدت أعمال الترميم السابقة للواجهة الجنوبية إلى تدمير بعض جوانب التصميم الأصلي للهرم. وقد تم تشكيل فريق ترميم برئاسة زاهي حواس بداية من عام ٢٠٠٦ للعمل على ترميم الهرم وإزالة الأتربة والرمل المتراكم الذي يغطي الكتل، حيث تمكن الفريق من جمع كل الكتل التي كانت مفكوكة تحت الرمال ومعالجتها على الفور واختيار أفضلها لإعادتها إلى الهرم بعد ملء الفراغات بالملاط. بالإضافة إلى ترميم الهرم، قام المشروع بدراسة مراحل البناء المختلفة للهرم المدرج مثل الأنفاق الموجودة أسفل الهرم، المدخل الجنوبي للهرم، حجرة الفاينس والمستوى الخامس للهرم. بالإضافة إلى اكتشاف تابوت الملك نتري خت وبعض الاكتشافات الهامة داخل الهرم. كما يناقش البحث قضية البحث عن مقبرة إيمحوتب المهندس العظيم، والتي تعتبر أمل جميع علماء الآثار الذين عملوا أو مازالوا يعملون في سقارة في العثور عليها، بينما اختار حواس المنطقة الواقعة غرب الهرم المدرج كمنطقة محتملة للبحث عن مقبرة إيمحوتب.
 
[EN] The Step Pyramid of Netjerikhet (also known as Djoser) is the oldest monumental stone structure in Egypt. Much of the pyramid’s façade has suffered significant damage. Moreover, previous restoration work on the south façade destroyed some of the pyramid’s original design. The restoration team Led by Zahi Hawass has worked since 2006 to remove the accumulated dust and sand that covered the blocks. The team was able to collected the loose blocks from under the sand, treat them immediately, and chose the best place for them in within the pyramid after filling the gaps with mortar. In addition to the restoration of the pyramid, the project studied and confirmed the different construction phases of the Step Pyramid such as the tunnels under the pyramid, the south entrance of the pyramid, the room of the faience tiles and the wall stela, and the fifth level of the pyramid. In addition, the team discovered the sarcophagus of Netjerikhet and made some other important discoveries inside the pyramid. The paper will also discuss the issue of the search for the discovery of the tomb of Imhotep, such a discovery is the hope of all archaeologists who have worked or are working at Saqqara. Indeed, Hawass chose the area west of the Step Pyramid as a likely area to search for the tomb of Imhotep.

Highlights
  • Introduction·
  • Brief Description of the Restoration
  • The Tunnels Under the Pyramid
  • The South Entrance of the Pyramid 
  • The Room of the Faience Tiles and the Wall Stela
  • The Fifth Level of the Pyramid
  • Imhotep: where is his tomb?
  • The Discovery of the Sarcophagus of Netjerikhet
  • Discoveries Inside The Pyramid

 

 

  • · The team who worked on the project of the Step Pyramid Restoration Project included: DR. HASSAN FAHMY EMAM: Consultant for the project, who supervised every stage of the restoration work; ENG/ MICHEL GABRIEL: El Shorbagy Company Representative from the Supreme Council of Antiquities:

-   Archeologists: AFIFI ROHEIM, SABRI FARAG, MOHAMED SHABAH, SAMHAN MOHAMED ABDEL SALAM, SAMIER ABDELRAFOUF & MOSTAFA HASSAN.

-   Restorers: SABRI ABDEL GHAFAR, MOSTAFA AHMED & ASHRAF FAHMY.

-   Architects: KAMEL LOUIS, HAMDY RASHWAN & MAHMOUD MASOUF.

 

Keywords
Step Pyramid; Djoser; Netjerikhet; Façade; Restoration; Imhotep; Faience
References
GAMAL EL-DIN, A. & FAHMY, H.: The Archaeological and Conservation Report of the Step Pyramid Restoration Project, (unpublished report) 2007.

VERNER, M.: The Pyramids: The Archaeology and History, Cairo (American University in Cairo Press), 2007. IAN MATHIESON & JON DITTMER: «The Geophysical Survey of North Saqqara, 2001-7», The Journal of

Egyptian Archaeology 93, 2007, 79-93.

HAWASS, Z.: «Excavations West of the Pyramid of Netjerikhet» forthcoming; Excavations Stopped as a Result of the Political Instability in Egypt during 2011.

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