Helwan (cemetery)
Helwan
حلوان (in Arabic) | |
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archaeological site | |
UTC+2 (EST ) |
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There are some examples of multiple burials. The deceased were mostly place in reed mats or coffins of different materials. Most of the bodies were found in a contracted position. Most tombs were built of mud bricks. Roofs are often made of timber. Some walls in the underground chambers were covered with plaster. In several tombs stones were found, used for roofing the tomb chamber, for blocking the entrance and in rare cases for paving walls. Some of the more elaborate tombs had several underground chambers. These chambers were often reached via a staircase.[2] The people buried here belonged to all levels of society, albeit the highest officials were buried at Saqqara. Over 40 stelae were found belonging to the upper levels of society. They are an important source for early writing in Egypt. A certain Meriiti bears many titles on his stela and dates most likely to the First Dynasty. A few stelae also belong to members of the royal family, such as the king's daughter Satkhnum, the king's daughter Khenmetptah and the king's son Nisuheqet. The stelae date from about the middle of the First Dynasty to the early Fourth Dynasty.[3]
References
- ISBN 978-3-86757-971-1, p. 1
- ^ E. Christiana Köhler: The Helwan Cemetery, in: Archeo-Nil, 18 (2008), pp. 114-122
- ISBN 978-3-86757-971-1, pp. 79-83