Selected secondary burials as evidence of later activities at the tomb of Khuwy at South Saqqara Hana Vymazalová
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Selected secondary burials as evidence of later activities at the tomb of Khuwy at South Saqqara Hana Vymazalová– Zeinab Hashesh– Ahmed Gabr– Nermeen Aba Yazeed ABSTRACT In 2019, during the excavations of the Egyptian mission atthe funerary complex of the Fifth ‑Dynasty King Djedkare (reign ca. 2381–2353 BC) at South Saqqara, Mohamed Megahed and his team revealed the painted tomb of the high ‑ranking Old Kingdom dignitary Khuwy (Megahed– Vymazalová 2019). Besides the re‑ mains of amummified body that were found scattered inside the burial apartment in the substructure of the tomb, several secondary burials were documented in the layers of debris covering the superstructure of Khuwy’stomb and its near vicinity. This article presents aselection of these secondary burials, includ‑ ing the archaeological context, associated finds and preliminary osteological investigation of the skeletal remains. The simple burials, dating between the New Kingdom and the Late Period, contained individuals of both sexes and all ages. KEYWORDS Saqqara– royal cemetery– secondary burial– paleopathology– physical anthropology– pottery ةراقس بونج ىف ىوخ ةربقمب ةقحلا ةطشنأ ىلع ليلدك ةراتخم ةيوناث تانفد ديزي ابأ نيمرن – ربج دمحأ – شيشح بنيز – اڤولازاميڤ اناه صخلملا ةسماخلا ةرسلأا نم عراكدج كلملل ةيزئانجلا ةعومجملاب ةيرصملا ةثعبلا اهترجأ ىتلا رئافحلا لامعأ ءانثأو 2019 ماع ىف عيفر ليبنل دوعت ىتلاو ةنولملا شوقنلا تاذ ةربقم نع هقيرفو دهاجم دمحم فشك ،ةراقس بونج ىف )دلايملا لبق 2353–2381( روثعلا مت ةطنحم ةثج اياقب بناج ىلإ .(Megahed – Vymazalová 2019) ىوخ ىعدي ةميدقلا ةلودلا رصع نم ىوتسملا ءزجلا ىطغي ناك ىذلا ميدرلا تاقبطب ةيوناث تانفد ةدع قيثوت مت ،ةربقملا نم ىلفسلا ءزجلاب نفدلا ةرجح لخاد ةرثعبم اهيلع اهقايس كلذ ىف امب ،ةيوناثلا تانفدلا هذه نم ةراتخم ةعومجم ةلاقملا هذه مدقت .بيرقلا اهطيحم ًاضيأو ،ىوخ ةربقم نم ىولعلا ام ةرتفلل ةطيسبلا تانفدلا خرؤتو اذه .ةيمظعلا لكايهلا اياقبل ةيلوأ ةسارد ًاضيأ مدقت امك ،اهب ةطبترملا ةيرثلأا ىقللاو ،ىرثلأا .رامعلأا عيمج نمو نيسنجلا لاك نم ًادارفأ تمض ىتلا ىهو ،رخأتملا رصعلاو ةثيدحلا ةلودلا رصع نيب ةلادلا تاملكلا راخف – ةيقيزيف ايجولوبورثنأ – )ةميدقلا ضارملأا ملع( ايجولوثابويلاب – ةيوناث ةنفد – ةيكلم ةنابج – ةراقس The tomb of Khuwy, which was discovered at Djedkare’sroyal cemetery at South Saqqara in March 2019, dates to the late Fifth Dynasty (for the preliminary information on this tomb, see Megahed – Vymazalová 2019). Its exploration has revealed ahigh number of human remains– about 48 contexts with human remains have so far been documented in and around the tomb of Khuwy. These include not only the human remains from the burial apartment of the tomb, PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021, 105–126
106 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 which may have belonged to the tomb owner (Megahed – Vymazalová 2019: 42),1 but also many secondary burials of alater date as well as scatt ered bones collected from the debris without any indications of anatomical position. Th e secondary burials are, in general, mostly simple burials of low ‑class individuals who lived centuries or millennia aft er the Old Kingdom and who wished to rest at the royal cemeteries in the vicinity of the pyramid complexes of the Old Kingdom rulers. Such secondary burials are well known from all the royal cemeteries of the Old Kingdom (see, for instance, Borchardt 1909: 71–79; Myśliwiec [ed.] 2008), and they have recently been documented also in the pyramid complexes of King Djedkare and Queen Setibhor at South Saqqara (Megahed– Jánosi– Vymazalová 2019: 19–24, 29, 33–34; Vymazalová– Hashesh 2019). Besides the royal monuments themselves, secondary burials are also found near tombs of important individuals who were buried at royal cemeteries (for instance in the tomb of the vizier Ptahshepses at Abusir, Strouhal– Bareš 1993). In the tomb of Khuwy at Djedkare’sroyal cemetery, we can fi nd secondary burials within, above and around the tomb, placed simply in sandy debris, sometimes in awooden or reed coffi n, or in small mud ‑brick or limestone tombs (Megahed– Vymazalová 2019: 39) (see the plan in fi g. 1). 1 Th e examination of these human remains as well as other fi nds from Khuwy’sburial apartment is still in progress, and the dating of these human remains and the identifi cation of its owner have not yet been concluded. 0 5m e a bc d f g F112 F107 F106 F111 F122 F126 F114 +F119 F55 F10 F68 F130 F136 unexploredunexplored Fig. 1 Aplan of the tomb of Khuwy showing: a) entrance room of the chapel, b) north ‑south room of the chapel, c) false ‑door room of the chapel, d) serdab, e) descending corridor, f) burial apartment, g) mud‑ ‑brick installation. Th e position of the selected secondary burial contexts is indicated by ellipses and fi nd numbers (drawing Djedkare Project, H. Vymazalová)
107HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED The present article focuses on agroup of twelve burial contexts, which, however, constitute only apart (one ‑fourth) of all the secondary burials that have been found at Khuwy’stomb.2 These twelve burials were associated with objects relevant for dating or were situated near burials with such objects. The date determined by means of the associated objects can be further indicated by the type of debris in which each context was discovered, as the different character of sand and its additions seems to be in good agreement with the different suggested dating of these burials. The finds under discussion are mostly pottery vessels but also coffin fragments, beads and acosmetic jar. This article provides preliminary information, which will be further expanded as the analysis of the finds from Khuwy’stomb will continue. Nevertheless, adetailed look at the selected burial contexts and their suggested dating can help us understand the development of the area of Khuwy’stomb in the periods following Khuwy’sdeath. In addition, the osteological examination of the skeletal materials can provide the basic age and sex assessment, as well as evidence of diseases and injuries. Such evidence is atestimony to the life of the individuals (Nováčeketal. 2017); to acertain degree, it makes it possible to reconstruct the health care and diseases in the ancient Egyptian population. Muscle attachment sites and some diseases probably reflect the lifestyle and work load of the individuals studied. METHODOLOGY THE METHODS OF POTTERY ANALYSIS The pottery discussed in this paper includes vessels that were directly associated with the burial context under study. It does not, however, reflect the pottery finds from the surrounding debris, as their analysis is still in progress. The finds associated with the burial contexts have been analysed according to priorities, first focusing on the pottery associated with burials. The ceramics were sorted based on type‑ ‑defining features, which included rims, bases, handles, and distinctive fabrics. The shards were cleaned by brush and some of them washed. By means of alens, the fabrics were exam‑ ined for fresh breaks of shards and were described according to the Vienna System (Nord‑ strom– Bourriau 1993: 168–187). The assemblages were divided into categories by fabric and vessel type, as defined by the ratio of the rim diameter to the body diameter (Aperture Index, AI) (see Arias Kytnarová 2014: 51). Shards representative of individual types were selected for drawing and photographing. THE METHODS OF OSTEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS The osteological examination of the skeletal remains under study was conducted in several stages: 1) the cleaning for each individual separately with adifferent ‑size brush, wooden tools, and magnifying glass to examine the bone surfaces; 2) inventory recording for each bone or bone fragment of each individual (as present or missing); 3) photographic documentation. 2 The exploration of the tomb will continue, and more secondary burials can be expected to be found along the south and west sides of the tomb, which have not yet been cleared.
108 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 Excavation number Position Elevation Burial container Skeleton number Primary or secondary individual Sex Age category Age assessment Stature mean Pathology MSE1-F10-2019 E‑W 46.5 pottery 6primary NA infant 0–1 years / Woven bone formation has been found on the right tibia and fibula and the left femur. MSE1-F55-2019 E‑W 46.3 pottery 8primary NA infant 2–3 months / The left tibia shows woven bone formation on the medi‑ al surface of the shaft. MSE1-F55-2019 7secondary NA adult Above 20 years / / MSE1-F68-2019 N‑S 46.2 painted wooden coffin 13 primary male adult 20–24 years 157.37 / MSE1-F106-2019 N‑S 45.5 wooden planks 14 primary male young adult 20–29 years 157.82 / MSE1-F107-2019 N‑S 45.2 / 15 primary female middle adult 35–39 years 153.12 The 3rd and 4th thoracic vertebrae have a healed fracture on the right articulation facets, the 2nd lumbar vertebra has a compression fracture on the superior end‑plate, and the 5th lumbar vertebra shows a unilateral spondy‑ lolysis MSE1-F107-2019 16 secondary male adult above 20 years / / MSE1-F111-2019 E‑W 45.5 / 9primary male young adult 20–24 years 153.73 Healed fractures on the right‑hand scaphoid and in‑ termediate phalanges as well as coccyx; lamellar bone formation on the left femur, fibula and patella MSE1-F111-2019 10 secondary female adult above 20 years / Slight calculus and interproximal caries on the left maxillary premolars MSE1-F112-2019 N‑S 45.6 / 17 primary male? adult 40–49 years 160.63 Both the mandible and the maxilla exhibit the antemor‑ tem loss in more than 50% of the teeth, extensive wear and enamel hypoplasia. The hip and knee joints shows osteoarthritis, while the lumbar vertebrae have osteo‑ phytes; in addition, the 1st left metacarpal has a healed fracture MSE1-F112-2019 18 secondary NA adolescent 15–18 / / MSE1-F112-2019 19 secondary NA young child 4–5 years / Traces of probably cribra orbitalia in healing in the left eye orbit MSE1-F114+F119-2019 E‑W 45.8 reed coffin (?) 20 primary female adolescent 12–15 years / Traces of active cribra orbitalia, maxillary sinusitis on right maxilla
109HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED Excavation number Position Elevation Burial container Skeleton number Primary or secondary individual Sex Age category Age assessment Stature mean Pathology MSE1-F10-2019 E‑W 46.5 pottery 6primary NA infant 0–1 years / Woven bone formation has been found on the right tibia and fibula and the left femur. MSE1-F55-2019 E‑W 46.3 pottery 8primary NA infant 2–3 months / The left tibia shows woven bone formation on the medi‑ al surface of the shaft. MSE1-F55-2019 7secondary NA adult Above 20 years / / MSE1-F68-2019 N‑S 46.2 painted wooden coffin 13 primary male adult 20–24 years 157.37 / MSE1-F106-2019 N‑S 45.5 wooden planks 14 primary male young adult 20–29 years 157.82 / MSE1-F107-2019 N‑S 45.2 / 15 primary female middle adult 35–39 years 153.12 The 3rd and 4th thoracic vertebrae have a healed fracture on the right articulation facets, the 2nd lumbar vertebra has a compression fracture on the superior end‑plate, and the 5th lumbar vertebra shows a unilateral spondy‑ lolysis MSE1-F107-2019 16 secondary male adult above 20 years / / MSE1-F111-2019 E‑W 45.5 / 9primary male young adult 20–24 years 153.73 Healed fractures on the right‑hand scaphoid and in‑ termediate phalanges as well as coccyx; lamellar bone formation on the left femur, fibula and patella MSE1-F111-2019 10 secondary female adult above 20 years / Slight calculus and interproximal caries on the left maxillary premolars MSE1-F112-2019 N‑S 45.6 / 17 primary male? adult 40–49 years 160.63 Both the mandible and the maxilla exhibit the antemor‑ tem loss in more than 50% of the teeth, extensive wear and enamel hypoplasia. The hip and knee joints shows osteoarthritis, while the lumbar vertebrae have osteo‑ phytes; in addition, the 1st left metacarpal has a healed fracture MSE1-F112-2019 18 secondary NA adolescent 15–18 / / MSE1-F112-2019 19 secondary NA young child 4–5 years / Traces of probably cribra orbitalia in healing in the left eye orbit MSE1-F114+F119-2019 E‑W 45.8 reed coffin (?) 20 primary female adolescent 12–15 years / Traces of active cribra orbitalia, maxillary sinusitis on right maxilla
110 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 Tab.1 An overview of the positions, burial containers, and age and sex assessments for the secondary burials from Khuwy’stomb The material was analysed by visual examination and, where necessary, with the aid of amagnifying glass for identification purposes. This was done with no prior knowledge of associated artefacts so that the assessment remained as objective as possible. Osteological analysis was carried out to ascertain the condition of the bone present, the completeness of the skeleton, the inventory of the skeletal material, the sex, age, metric and non ‑metric traits, stature, skeletal pathology condition and dental pathology health (tab.1). As the human skeletal remains under study come from secondary burials from the debris, they include not only bones in situ but also scattered remains (Jaschetal. 2015). Therefore, the minimum ‑number ‑of ‑individuals (MNI) method was used with scattered materials to distin‑ guish individuals in each archaeological context. The recording system followed the standards for data collection from human skeletal remains as defined by Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994). The metrics for sex or stature estimation were taken where possible (Bass 1995). Different for‑ Excavation number Position Elevation Burial container Skeleton number Primary or secondary individual Sex Age category Age assessment Stature mean Pathology MSE1-F122-2019 21 secondary male? adult 157.04 / MSE1-F122-2019 E‑W 45.2 22 primary male adult 30–40 years 173.62 Dental problems including caries, periodontal attrition and enamel hypoplasia. Multiple healed traumas in different locations in the body; well‑healed fractures on both the right and left ribs, the right 1st metacarpal, the 3rd, 4th, 9–12th thoracic vertebrae, and the left ilium. Other healing fractures observed in the right pelvic and the 1st lumbar vertebrae. The two different groups of fractures indicate different timing and biomechanics. The left shoulder and knee joints had osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis in the left shoulder joint may be related to the well‑healed fractures in the ribs, thoracic vertebrae and the left pelvic. MSE1-F122-2019 23 secondary NA young child 1–6 years / / MSE1-F126-2019 N‑S 44.9 reed coffin 24 primary female middle adult 40–44 years 148.9 Osteoarthritis and osteophytes on all vertebrae, a com‑ pression fracture with fusion on the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae, and well‑healed fractures with fusion on the distal left tibia and fibula, a well‑healed fracture on the distal left radius MSE1-F130-2019 43.35 11 secondary NA older child 6–9 years / / MSE1-F134-2019 E‑W 43.5 wooden planks 12 primary female adolescent 14–16 years / The right temporal and occipital exhibit woven bone for‑ mation on the endocranium, which probably resulted from a non‑specific infection or brain trauma; the vertebral column and ribs bear traces of both bone formation and bone loss, which are probably related to tuberculosis or neoplasm diseases.
111HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED Excavation number Position Elevation Burial container Skeleton number Primary or secondary individual Sex Age category Age assessment Stature mean Pathology MSE1-F122-2019 21 secondary male? adult 157.04 / MSE1-F122-2019 E‑W 45.2 22 primary male adult 30–40 years 173.62 Dental problems including caries, periodontal attrition and enamel hypoplasia. Multiple healed traumas in different locations in the body; well‑healed fractures on both the right and left ribs, the right 1st metacarpal, the 3rd, 4th, 9–12th thoracic vertebrae, and the left ilium. Other healing fractures observed in the right pelvic and the 1st lumbar vertebrae. The two different groups of fractures indicate different timing and biomechanics. The left shoulder and knee joints had osteoarthritis. The osteoarthritis in the left shoulder joint may be related to the well‑healed fractures in the ribs, thoracic vertebrae and the left pelvic. MSE1-F122-2019 23 secondary NA young child 1–6 years / / MSE1-F126-2019 N‑S 44.9 reed coffin 24 primary female middle adult 40–44 years 148.9 Osteoarthritis and osteophytes on all vertebrae, a com‑ pression fracture with fusion on the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae, and well‑healed fractures with fusion on the distal left tibia and fibula, a well‑healed fracture on the distal left radius MSE1-F130-2019 43.35 11 secondary NA older child 6–9 years / / MSE1-F134-2019 E‑W 43.5 wooden planks 12 primary female adolescent 14–16 years / The right temporal and occipital exhibit woven bone for‑ mation on the endocranium, which probably resulted from a non‑specific infection or brain trauma; the vertebral column and ribs bear traces of both bone formation and bone loss, which are probably related to tuberculosis or neoplasm diseases. mulas used the method recommended by Raxter and co ‑authors to estimate stature for both males and females. This method was developed specifically for ancient Egyptian population (Raxteretal. 2008). The measurements were dependent on the state of bone preservation; femur, tibia, and radius maximum length were used to estimate the stature. As for males, fe‑ mur and tibia [1.282 (femm+tibm) + 59.35], femur [2.257 (femm) + 63.93], and radius [2.641 (rad) + 100.91] were employed, while for females, femur and tibia [1.313 (femm+tibm) + 54.36], and tibia [2.699 (tibm) + 61.08] were utilised. Sex was assessed according to the pelvic and skull dimorphic traits where preservation allowed. Using the standards based on Buikstra and Ubelaker (1994) nuchal crest, mastoid process, supra orbital margin, glabella, and mental eminence were assessed in the skull. Sci‑ atic notch and pubic morphology were used in the pelvic.
112 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 Age was assessed using epiphyseal fusion (Schaeferetal. 2009) and dental development (Al Qahtanietal. 2010) where suitable for juveniles, while in adults, pubic symphysis, auricular surface were analysed according to Brookes and Suchey (1990) and Lovejoyetal. (1985). Al‑ though dental attrition was recorded as well, it was not used for age estimation due to anumber of problems related to this technique when used for ancient populations (Brickley– Ives 2008). THE SELECTED SECONDARY BURIAL CONTEXTS The burial contexts under study (see the plan in fig. 1) are arranged here according to the excavation numbers. In addition, these finds have been discovered in three distinct areas of the tomb: the area to the east of the tomb near the entrance to the chapel of Khuwy’stomb, where they were placed in the debris near the ground level; the area of the chapel itself, where they were situated on top of the preserved casing blocks and in the layers above them; and the debris above the tomb, namely its central and western parts. These burial contexts thus document the gradual filling of the area of Khuwy’stomb with debris and the use of the area as asecondary burial ground. For every burial, the text below contains information about the context of discovery, as‑ sociated finds, osteological examination and pottery analysis. Some of the contexts included only human remains with no other finds, but these were often found near or in direct contact with other, dated burial contexts. SECONDARY BURIALS ABOVE THE TOMB OF KHUWY Three burials have been discovered above the central and western parts of Khuwy’stomb at the level of the preserved top of its core walls (the elevation of the burial contexts: 46.2– 46.5 m a.s.l.). They were placed in the debris of yellow sand that contained some pottery shards, asmall amount of limestone chips and very few pebbles. Two of these burials were placed in pottery vessels and one on awooden coffin with painted decoration, all of which indicate aLate Period dating of these contexts. EXCAV. NO. MSE1-F10-2019 This infant burial has been found in the debris above the south sector of Khuwy’stomb, to the west of the north ‑south room of the chapel and to the south of the false‑door chamber. It was interred in apottery jar with ovoid body and two small handles in the upper part (fig. 2a), made of Nile clay with smoothed surface, which was placed in the east ‑west direction with the rim to the west. Its partly broken upper part revealed the filling of pure yellow sand with some remains of ropes. Based on the vessel type, this burial can be dated to the Late Period (for parallels, see Budka 2010: 39, fig. 8, no. 571; Aston 1999: 220–221, pl. 67, fig. 1961; Aston– Aston 2010: 67, fig. 21, no. 218). This burial context contained the remains of one individual of infant age (Skeleton 6). It was badly preserved, with only some long bones remaining from the whole skeleton. Woven bone formation has been found on the right tibia and fibula and the left femur, which may attest to anon ‑specific infection or the healing of soft ‑tissue trauma.
113HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED EXCAV. NO. MSE1-F55-2019 This burial context has been found in the debris above the south sector of Khuwy’stomb, near the south ‑west corner of the false ‑door chamber of the chapel. It contained the remains of two skeletons, one primary and one secondary. The primary context (Skeleton 8) was interred in apottery jar placed in the east ‑west direction with the rim to the west. The vessel was surrounded by asmall mud ‑brick construction on three sides (fig. 3a), which probably used to form asmall tomb. The vessel itself had abag ‑shape ripped body and two small handles in the upper part, and it was made of Nile C fabric with smoothed surface with awhite slip Fig. 2 The infant burial MSE1‑F10‑2019 (Skeleton 6) in apottery burial container: a) in situ, b) the potte‑ ry container drawing (photo and drawing Djedkare Project, H. Vymazalová, N. Aba Yazeed) Fig. 3 The infant burial MSE1‑F55‑2019 (Skeleton 8) in apottery burial container: a) in situ, b) the pottery container drawing (photo and drawing Djedkare Project, H. Vymazalová, N. Aba Yazeed) 10 cm0 a b 10 cm0 a b
120 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 The individual was amiddle ‑adult female between 40 and 44 years old and 148.9 ±1.968 cm tall according to the greatest lengths of both the right tibia and femur (32.8 and 39.2 cm respec‑ tively). Various pathological lesions have been observed on the bones, including osteoarthritis and osteophytes on all vertebrae, and acompression fracture with fusion on the 2nd and 3rd lumbar vertebrae, which indicate workload stress. The well ‑healed fractures with fusion on the distal left tibia and fibula and the well ‑healed fracture observed on the distal left radius were probably aresult of afall ‑related injury (figs. 8a–b). SECONDARY BURIALS FROM THE AREA TO THE EAST OF KHUWY’STOMB These burials were placed by the mud ‑brick installation that runs in the north ‑south direc‑ tion along the east wall of Khuwy’stomb. This installation has not been exposed, and only its western face is uncovered. Several secondary burials have been documented in this area near the entrance to Khuwy’schapel (see fig. 1), placed at the bottom level of the debris consisting of brown sand with pebbles and limestone chips, and some pottery fragments. Based on the associated finds, these burials date to the New Kingdom period. EXCAV. NO. MSE1-F130-2019 This context has been found in the area to the east of the tomb of Khuwy, near the mud‑ ‑brick installation that runs along its east wall, and close to the burial context Excav. No. MSE1‑F134‑2019 (see below). This context contains only secondary skeletal remains (Skeleton 11), represented by skull bones, afragment of the right scapula, three thoracic vertebrae, right rib fragments and the right ilium. The remains belonged to an old child between six and nine years old. These bones were accompanied by pottery fragments, apottery vessel, acosmetic jar and beads (fig.9). The beads were made of faience and red stone; they include blue and white thin disk beads, dark ‑blue and red ball ‑shaped beads, dark ‑blue beads in the shape of deities and light ‑blue seal amulets with flat bottoms bearing incised decoration. One has the shape of ahedgehog and bears the inscription Imn -Ra between two nb ‑signs on the bottom (for aparallel, see for example Vymazalová – Hashesh 2019: 81; Sowada 1999: 56, pl. 13, 37 TNE94:95), while another one has an oval shape and its bottom bears the name Nb -MAat -Ra (Amenhotep III). The cosmetic palm ‑column flask made of calcite has along cylindrical body, aflat base and nine rounded leaves at the rim. It contains the rest of awooden kohl ‑stick. Such types of flasks date to the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties; examples can be found, for instance, at the Teti cemetery at Saqqara as well as other sites (Sowada 1999: 42, TNE94:5 B ‑C, pl. 5; Brovar‑ skietal. 1982: 166, no. 182, 183). The complete pottery juglet found in this context was wheel ‑made with ared slipped and burnished outer surface; this type of vessels can be dated to the Nineteenth Dynasty (Rose 2007: 267, pls. MD). The finds help us to date this context to the New Kingdom, according to the pottery vessels probably to the Nineteenth Dynasty.
121HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED Fig. 9 a) Objects associated with the context MSE1‑F130‑2019, b) adetail of the seal amulets, and c) adrawing of the associated pottery juglet (photo and drawing Djedkare Project, P. Košárek, N. Aba Yazeed) ab EXCAV. NO. MSE1-F134-2019 The burial context has been found in the area to the east of Khuwy’stomb in a70‑cm ‑deep pit hewn in the mud ‑brick installation that runs along the east wall of Khuwy’stomb. The burial context contains only one individual (Skeleton 12). The body was placed extended on the back in the east ‑west direction, with the fragmented skull to the west. The arms were along the body and the hands on the pelvis. The legs were placed next to each other, but the feet have not been well preserved. The bottom part of the burial was covered with aplank of wood, and some wooden nails found by the skull indicate that the wood probably came from acoffin, which has not survived. Asilver ring has been found on the index finger (?) of the left hand of the deceased, and arectangular red ‑stone amulet has been found next to it. The ring is decorated 5 cm 0 c
122 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 with an incised design of aHathor ‑headed sistrum and two outward ‑facing uraei (fig. 10; for aparallel, see Sowada 1999: 57, pl. 15, 38 TNE95:167, made of carnelian). The burial belongs to an adolescent female between 14 and 16 years old. The right temporal and occipital exhibit woven bone formation on the endocranium, which probably resulted from anon ‑specific infection or brain trauma. In addition, also the vertebral column and ribs bear traces of both bone formation and bone loss, which are probably related to tuberculosis or neoplasm diseases. CONCLUSION The group of secondary burials under discussion comes from the area of the tomb of Khuwy, which is situated in the north ‑east part of Djedkare’sroyal cemetery at South Saqqara (Mega‑ hed – Vymazalová 2019). This paper has discussed twelve of the 48 contexts with human remains documented in and around Khuwy’stomb. The examined group does not constitute arepresentative sample of all the secondary burials from Khuwy’stombs, but rather the first group examined. This group includes burials that were associated with dateable objects, mostly pottery, but also the remains of awooden coffin and some small objects. Other burials in this group had no such finds associated with the human remains, but their location in the tomb, the character of the surrounding debris as well as their position relative to the burials with the objects can also be regarded as indicative. The upper levels of Khuwy’stomb contained three burials associated with objects, namely two infant burials in pottery vessels and one burial in apainted wooden coffin of Late Period date. The burials to the east of Khuwy’stomb are associated with pottery, beads, acosmetic vessel and aring, which can all be dated to the New Kingdom. In the chapel of Khuwy’stomb, we can find burials in two types of debris, which seem to correspond to the two above‑ ‑mentioned time periods; these burials can thus be probably dated between the New Kingdom and the Late Period. Fig. 10 The silver ring with aHathor ‑headed sistrum from the hand of the burial MS1‑F134‑2019 (photos Djedkare Project, H. Vymazalová, P.Košárek) ab
123HANA VYMAZALOVÁ– ZEINAB HASHESH– AHMED GABR– NERMEEN ABA YAZEED The pottery finds associated with the secondary burials in Khuwy’stomb include two large jars serving as burial containers for infants (MSE1‑F10‑2019, MSE1‑F55‑2019) and pottery vessels representing burial gifts (MSE1‑F130‑2019). The osteological examination of the burial contexts under discussion has revealed that besides the eleven primary individuals, these burials also contained eight secondary individ‑ uals, whose bones were mixed with the surrounding debris (see the overview in tab. 1). Of the primary individuals in these burial contexts, two individuals were infants (MSE1‑F10‑2019, MSE1‑F55‑2019), two were adolescents (MSE1‑F114+119‑2019, MSE1‑F134‑2019), and seven were adults (MSE1‑F68‑2019, MSE1‑F106‑2019, MSE1‑F107‑2019, MSE1‑F111‑2019, MSE1‑F112‑2019, MSE1‑F122‑2019 and MSE1‑F126‑2019). Among the adolescents and adults whose sex could be determined, five were males (MSE1‑F68‑2019, MSE1‑F106‑2019, MSE1‑F111‑2019, MSE1‑F112‑2019, MSE1‑F122‑2019) and four were females (MSE1‑F107‑2019, MSE1‑F114+119‑2019, MSE1‑F126‑2019, MSE1‑F134‑2019). Among the secondary individuals, often represented by only afew bones, the age and sex assessment was not always possible. Of the eight secondary individuals, three were children (MSE1‑F112‑2019 Skeleton 19, MSE1‑F122‑2019 Skeleton 23, MSE1‑F130‑2019 Skeleton 11), one was adolescent (MSE1‑F112‑2019 Skeleton 18) and four were adults, including two males (MSE1‑F107‑2019 Skeleton 16, and MSE1‑F122‑2019 Skeleton 21) and one female (MSE1‑F111‑2019 Skeleton 10); the sex of the last individual could not be determined. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This paper was written with the support of Neuron Impulse grant no. 30/2017, and the Pro‑ gramme for the Development of Study at Charles University, nr. Q11 Complexity and Resilience: Ancient Egyptian Civilisation in Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Perspective. The exploration of the tomb was also supported by the Czech Science Foundation grant no. GA18‑03708S: Transformation of the Ancient Egyptian Society in the Late Fifth Dynasty According to the Evidence from Djedkare’sPyramid Complex. BIBLIOGRAPHY Arias Kytnarová, Katarína 2014 “Ceramic finds”, in: Krejčí, Jaromír– Arias Kytnarová, Katarínaetal. Mastaba of Werkaure, Vol. 1 (Old Kingdom Strata), Prague: Charles University, Faculty of Arts [Abusir XXIV], pp. 71–260. Aston, David A. 1999 Elephantine XIX: Pottery from the Late New Kingdom to the Early Ptolemaic Period, Mainz: Verlag Philipp von Zabern [Archäologische Veröffentlichungen 95]. Aston, David A.– Aston, Barbara G. 2010 Late Period Pottery from the New Kingdom Necropolis at Saqqâra: Egypt Exploration Society ‑National Museum of Antiquities, London/Leiden, Excavations 1975–1995, London– Leiden: Egypt Exploration Society [EES Excavation Memoir 92].
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126 PRAGUE EGYPTOLOGICAL STUDIES XXVII/2021 Zeinab Hashesh Faculty of Arts, Beni Suef University, Egypt Ahmed Gabr Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt Nermeen Aba Yazeed Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Egypt