Dating the Tombs of the
Egyptian Old Kingdom
Joyce Swinton
Archaeopress Egyptology 2
Archaeopress
Gordon House
276 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7ED
www.archaeopress.com
ISBN 978 1 905739 82 0
© Archaeopress and J Swinton 2014
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Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
iii
PREFACE
vii
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
1–8
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
1.1.1
1.2
1.3
1.3.1
1.4
1.4.1
1.4.2
1.4.3
1.5
1.6
The need to date private tombs
Chronological confusion
The proposed dating system
Defining the end of the Old Kingdom and the First Intermediate Period
Dating criteria for the end of the Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period
Methodology used in this study: establishing dating criteria
Two groups of tombs
Categories of tombs
Time scale to be used
Stages in the development of the dating system
The dating of provincial tombs
2
PROSOPOGRAPHY FOR TOMB GROUPS A AND B
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.7.1
2.7.2
Data from Giza
Data from Saqqara
Data from tombs of Upper Egypt
The use of personal relationships
Dating for the prosopography
Prosopography (Groups A and B)
Group A and B offcials
Explanatory notes to the Catalogue of Officials
Catalogue of Officials according to their prosopography number and group
3
ESTABLISHING DATING CRITERIA
3.1
3.1.1.
3.1.2
3.1.3
3.1.4
3.1.5
3.1.6
Dress of the male tomb owner (CRITERIA 1–8)
The flared kilt
The short, tight-fitting kilt
Choice of kilt
Kilt styles and dating criteria
Horizontal buckle and stiff tag
Criteria based upon kilt styles
49
49
50
50
54
54
55
3.2
3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3
3.2.4
Adornment of the tomb owner (CRITERIA 9–12)
The beaded collar
The amulet
Wigs
Criteria based upon male adornment
55
55
56
56
56
3.3
3.3.1
3.3.2
3.3.3
The ‘animal skin’ garment (CRITERIA 13–24)
The long robe depicting an animal skin worn by males and females
The animal skin worn over the kilt
Criteria based upon the animal skin
57
57
57
58
1
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
9–48
9
10
11
12
12
14
44
44
45
49–96
iii
3.4
3.4.1
3.4.2
3.4.3
Tomb owner at the offering table (CRITERIA 25–30)
Dress of the male at the offering table
Posture of the male seated at the offering table
Criteria based upon the tomb owner at the offering table
59
60
60
61
3.5
3.5.1
3.5.2
3.5.3
3.5.4
Bread and reeds on offering table (CRITERIA 31–38)
Height of half loaves
Reeds on the offering table
Orientation of half loaves and reeds
Criteria based upon bread and reeds on the offering table
62
62
62
62
63
3.6
3.6.1
3.6.2
3.6.3
3.6.4
3.6.5
Lists and offerings associated with table (CRITERIA 39–50)
The offering lists
The pictorial display of food
The xA list
Ewer and basin
Criteria based upon offerings and lists
64
64
64
65
65
66
3.7
3.7.1
3.7.2
3.7.3
3.8
3.8.1
3.8.2
3.8.3
3.8.4
Priestly figures performing rites (CRITERIA 51–59)
Individual funerary priests
Row of funerary priests
Criteria based upon priestly figures performing rites
The offering table (CRITERIA 60–63)
Height of offering table
Offering table pedestal
Lipped rim of table
Criteria based upon the offering table
67
67
67
67
68
68
68
68
68
3.9
3.9.1
3.9.2
3.9.3
3.9.4
3.9.5
The female figure (CRITERIA 64–72)
The wife of the deceased at the offering table
The pose of the female
Reduction of the size of the standing wife
Female adornment
Criteria based upon the female figure
68
69
69
70
70
71
3.10
3.10.1
3.10.2
3.10.3
3.10.4
3.10.5
The banquet scene (CRITERIA 73–78)
Appearance of the banquet
The flywhisk
The high backed armchair
The lotus
Criteria based upon the banquet scene
72
72
72
73
73
74
3.11
3.11.1
3.11.2
3.11.3
3.11.4
3.11.5
3.11.6
3.11.7
Stools and chairs (CRITERIA 79 – 93)
The armchair
The stool and chair with low back
Chair legs and feet
Tomb owner’s stool or chair
Chair leg supports
Mat or platform beneath the tomb owner’s chair and feet
Criteria based upon the tomb owner’s chair
74
74
75
75
75
75
76
76
3.12
3.12.1
3.12.2
3.12.3
3.12.4
3.12.5
Marsh scenes (CRITERIA 94–104)
‘Papyrus pulling’ scenes
The ‘pleasure cruise’ scene
The tomb owner fishing and fowling
Family members accompanying the tomb owner
Criteria based upon marsh scenes
77
77
78
78
78
79
iv
3.13
3.14
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
3.14.1
Figures and description of Criteria 1-104
Tables to establish dating criteria
Criteria Table 1: Criteria 1–24
Criteria Table 2: Criteria 25–50
Criteria Table 3: Criteria 51–78
Criteria Table 4: Criteria 79–104
Explanatory notes to the tables
4
TESTING THE CRITERIA
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.3.1
4.3.2
4.4
4.4.1
Giza Tombs
Saqqara Tombs
Provincial Tombs
The tombs of Naga ed-Der
The tombs of the Northern Cliff, Deir el-Gabrawi
Testing the Criteria: Charts A to G-G
Explanatory note to the charts
5
CONCLUDING COMMENTS
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
The validity of the criteria
Reliability of the system
Question of archaising tombs
Need for more criteria
A time lag between cemeteries?
80–95
96–135
96
106
116
126
136
137– 168
137
141
143
144
145
147
168
169–172
169
170
170
171
171
173
ABBREVIATIONS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
v