The mastaba of the chief physician, Nfr-Hr-PtH (AS 65)

THE MASTABA OF THE CHIEF PHYSICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX/2017 27 The mas aba o Ne e he p ah (AS 65) belongs o he so-called co ido chapel ype (Reisne 1942: 256–291) and ea u es ou ooms, an open cou , p obably wo se dabs and h ee bu ial sha s ( ig. 1). The size o he en i e omb is imp essi e, measu ing 21.0 × 9.3 o 11.0 m (ca. 40 × 20 cubi s). The main ea u e o he complex is he ac ha , in compa ison o he su ounding mas abas, i.e. AS 31, AS 36, AS 66 and AS 67 (Bá a e al. 2014), no eal “massi ” o he omb’s co e exis s, bu he en i e s uc u e consis s o sha s and cons uc ion walls which su ound a ill o deb is ( ig. 2). The mas aba has su e ed om ex ensi e damage, s one obbe y and loo ing. One canno escape he imp ession ha a a ce ain poin , he omb was exploi ed as a qua y o o he building ope a ions a he si e. Ce ain ea u es obse ed in he emaining pa s – he su ace o Sha s 2 and 3 and he alse doo in he main o e ing oom (IV) – clea ly indica e ha he emnan s o he uined s uc u e and he emp ied sha s we e exposed o wea he ing o qui e some ime,2 esul ing in he poo p ese a ion o he omb complex ha we see oday. The s one walls o he chambe s we e p ese ed up o i e cou ses o d essed local limes one blocks (max. heigh 1.68 m) on he eas and sou h walls; he wes wall only had ou cou ses (heigh 1.14 m). No ceiling blocks emained and, excep o he loo o he main alse doo niche (Room IV), none o he ooms had a loo made o s one. This does no necessa ily mean ha he ooms o iginally had no The mas aba o he chie physician, N -H -P H (AS 65) Pe e Jánosi Tomb AS 65 is pa o a complex compound o la ge s one mas abas da ing om he eign o Nyuse e o he beginning o he Six h Dynas y (Dulíko á – Odle – Ha elko á 2011). The mas aba belonged o he chie physician, Ne e he p ah, and was exca a ed in he all o 2010. A e a b eak caused by he 2011 e olu ion in Egyp , wo k in he ield con inued in 2012. Howe e , he en i e s uc u e was no comple ely clea ed and documen ed, since o he , mo e impe a i e wo k in e ened (Vymazalo á – Dulíko á 2012: 339–356; Bá a e al. 2014). Thus, wo k a AS 65 was no esumed and comple ed un il he all o 2016. Du ing he a he sho season ha ollowed, he wes e n pa o he mas aba was clea ed, and a hi d sha (no. 3) was ound in he cen e o he co e. Despi e all ou e o s, howe e , no appa en en ance in o his omb complex was disco e ed du ing ha las season ei he . I mus be suspec ed, and hope ully e i ied in one o he nex seasons, ha he o iginal access in o he omb complex was possible om he sou h.1 Fig. 1 Plan o he mas aba o Ne e he p ah (AS 65) (d awing E. Maje us) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 27 s one loo a all; i migh be assumed ha he blocks – p obably smalle limes one slabs se be ween he walls (compa e he loo o he o e ing place) – we e mo e easily emo ed by s one obbe s. The loo le el can hus only be deduced om he emaining h esholds o he di iding walls and he loo o he o e ing niche. Ano he indica o o he loo le el migh be he nume ous le elling lines ound on he walls o he ooms (see below). The o iginal heigh o he omb is nowhe e p ese ed. No ounda ion was unco e ed ei he . The walls we e buil di ec ly on clean sand and deb is eaching down o he o iginal bed ock su ace. None o he walls showed any aces o deco a ion – ei he in pain o elie . The lowe pa o he alse doo , which emained in qui e good condi ion, was also oid o any deco a ion. The oughly d essed walls o he ooms, howe e , exhibi ed long ho izon al le elling lines in ed pain , especially on he wes wall. Despi e he sca ci y o insc ibed ma e ial, he lowe mos blocks as well as se e al loose blocks ea u ed g a i i in ed pain and cha coal, w i en on he und essed su ace o he blocks. These insc ip ions ( ig. 3) es ablished he name o he owne o he omb, Ne e he p ah (N -H -P H)(Ranke 1935: 198, no.8; Ranke 1952: 369), who held he i le o a chie physician, w sjnw ( o he i le, see Jones 2000: 396, no.1462). Excep o his i le, no hing is known abou his man, and he dilapida ed condi ion o his omb did no change his iew. I is wo h men ioning, howe e , ha Ne e he p ah buil his omb nex o he mas aba o an inspec o o physicians, P ahhe ep (AS 36)3and no a om he chie physician o Uppe and Lowe Egyp , Shepseska ankh (AS 67) (Bá a 2015: 25). Among his g oup o physicians, Ne e he p ah’s mas aba is he la es in his ceme e y. Conside ing he mas aba’s posi ion and i s ela ionship o he su ounding s uc u es, i is e iden ha his omb was no buil on an independen si e in he nec opolis, bu was squeezed in o he emaining space be ween he huge mas abas al eady s anding be o e Ne e he p ah s a ed cons uc ing his e e nal abode. Conside ing he condi ion o he s ill emaining pa s o he omb, i is also clea ha Ne e he p ah was ob iously no able o inish his omb. Because o hese ci cums ances and he less solid cons uc ion me hods encoun e ed in he a chi ec u e o his mas aba, he en i e s uc u e p obably soon ell in o disuse, was pa ly demolished and eused as a seconda y bu ial place o poo in e men s ha da e o he e y end o he Old Kingdom o he Fi s In e media e Pe iod (Dulíko á – Odle – Březino á – Ha elko á 2015). The main s uc u e o he mas aba is di ided in o wo almos equally spaced hal es. The no he n pa con ains he huge mou h o a sha and a long, ec angula se dab o he sou h o i . The main o e ing oom (Room IV) wi h he deep niche belongs o his pa o he mas aba. Because o he posi ion and size o hese ins alla ions (sha and o e ing oom), i can be assumed wi h con idence ha his pa was he main bu ial complex o he mas aba, and Ne e he p ah’s e e nal es ing place. The sou he n pa con ains wo smalle and closely spaced sha openings and p obably (see below) a smalle hidden chambe (se dab?) o he wes ( ig. 1). Room III wi h he 28 PES XIX/2017 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) Fig. 2 O e iew o mas aba AS 65 looking sou h (pho o P. Jánosi) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 28 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX/2017 29 wo niches in he wes wall se ed as he o e ing place o hese wo subsidia y sha s and bu ials. Rooms I and II o he sou h we e added a a la e s age in he cons uc ion o he mas aba (see below). Conce ning he building his o y o he complex and i s ch onological posi ion wi hin he ceme e y, he ollowing de ails can be ga he ed om he a chaeological si ua ion. When Ne e he p ah commanded he building o his omb, he used he eas e n açades o wo al eady exis ing mas abas a he si e. In he no he n pa he used he en i e space alongside he mud b ick casing o he eas wall o he huge ock-cu mas aba omb, AS 31, namely, he whole pa o he sou h o i s sou he n niche (da e: mid- -Fi h Dynas y, he owne emains anonymous; see Bá a 2011: 15–21). In he sou he n pa , he no h side o a huge mud b ick mas aba (AS 64) was used ( his omb has no ye been exca a ed). This s uc u e was buil o da k mud b icks (30 × 16 × 10 cm) qui e di e en om he ma e ial used in AS 65 and was olde han AS 65; his is clea om he ac ha he omb’s açade had al eady been plas e ed and whi ewashed when he casing blocks o AS 65 we e se along he on o i s açade. As a consequence, Ne e he p ah ini ially espec ed he sou he n o e ing niche o AS 31 as well as he en ance in o he huge mud b ick mas aba o he sou h.4This means ha , a ha ime, bo h loca ions we e s ill in ope a ion and p obably accessible o he une a y pe sonnel in he nec opolis. Howe e , la e on, when he o e ing ooms o AS 65 we e buil along he mas aba’s eas side, hese chambe s abu ed he wes side o he huge s uc u e, AS 66, hus blocking any access o he no h, including he sou he n niche o AS 31. The si ua ion he e emains somewha enigma ic, since he space be ween AS 65 and he mas aba o P ahho ep (AS 36)5 o he no h is o med by a na ow co ido unning in an eas -wes di ec ion and ending in on o he sou he n alse doo o AS 31. No appa en opening in o his co ido was ound, and as he huge s one wall o he no h o he niche o AS 31 indica es, his space was ob iously delibe a ely closed o good. In all 2016, u he clea ance was done a he junc ion o he no h-eas co ne o AS 65, he sou h-eas co ne o he mas aba o P ahho ep (AS 36) and he “s uc u e” AS 66 ( o a ull desc ip ion o he a chaeological si ua ion he e, see Vymazalo á in his issue). The exca a ion e ealed ha he na ow co ido be ween he wo mas abas did no con inue o he eas , bu was blocked a ha end. Du ing he clea ing u he down, an L-shaped wall, ca e ully buil o good quali y limes one wi h smoo h no he n and eas e n aces, was disco e ed. I s bo om has no , as ye , been eached. Howe e , i became clea ha his L-shaped wall mus be an olde s uc u e, which migh be ela ed o AS 31 o he wes , since i s no he n pa seems o un owa ds he sou he n alse doo o ha mas aba. P esen ly, i is no clea i his wall is aligned wi h his cul place o no . Maybe he wall s opped a some poin in on o he alse doo ? Fu he in es iga ions should cla i y i s ela ionship o AS 31. When mas aba AS 36 (P ahho ep) was buil , i s sou he n ex ension inco po a ed his pa o he wall. Abou 2.6 m eas om he sou h- -eas e n co ne o AS 36, he s one wall u ns o he sou h and seems o become pa o he wes e n side o AS 66. While he no he n pa o he wall was ca. 0.8 m hick, he Fig. 3a, b G a i o naming he chie physician Ne e he p ah (pho o and d awing H. Vymazalo á) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 29 pa unning no h-sou h seems o be buil as wo walls unning pa allel (max. wid h 1.5 m). P esen ly, i is no clea exac ly how his wall is ela ed o AS 66. Is i an olde s uc u e ha was buil o e by he ombs o he la e Fi h Dynas y? Fu he clea ing is needed o answe his ques ion. I is wo h men ioning ha he eas side o Ne e he p ah’s omb adjoins he wes e n ace o his limes one wall. Fo he ime being, i is p esumed ha his wall con inued u he sou h, and his p e en ed Ne e he p ah om ha ing an en ance o his own omb om he eas . The si ua ion o he sou h o AS 65 also emains unclea . An almos squa e open cou (5.2 × 5.4 m) p o ided access ei he o he eas in o he en ance oom (II) o AS 65, o , u ning o he wes , in o he chapel o he mud b ick omb ( ig. 1). Conce ning he ques ion o how his cou and, in consequence, AS 65 and he mud b ick omb we e en e ed, one would hink ha , ini ially, he access was om he sou h. A an unknown poin in ime, howe e , ano he huge mud b ick omb (AS 64)6was buil along he sou h o AS 65, closing he sou he n side o he open cou . As can be ga he ed om he a chi ec u al ea u es o Rooms I and II ( ig. 1), hese wo chambe s we e buil when AS 64 was al eady in exis ence. The sou h wall o oom I abu s AS 64 and is much hinne han he o he s one walls o AS 65. In concluding, i mus be s essed ha he ela ionship o AS 65 o he s uc u es in he no h and sou h is no ye en i ely unde s ood. Is i possible o imagine ha AS 65, a e ha ing ecei ed all he in ended in e men s in i s subs uc u es, was closed and walled up wi hou any possibili y o access o he o e ing chambe s? S ange as his solu ion migh seem, i would accoun o he un inished s a e o he omb as well as i s ea ly euse and exploi a ion. Rooms I–IV As indica ed abo e, he accessible ooms con o m o he so-called co ido ype and consis o ou chambe s (I–IV; see ig. 1). These we e buil by e ec ing a wall along he wes side o he abo e-men ioned s one wall and, on he o he side o he co ido , using he casing o he massi o AS 65’s wes side. The di ision be ween he ooms was achie ed by simply e ec ing sho , pe pendicula connec ing walls, which we e no bonded o he mason y o he eas and wes . Ini ially, Rooms I and II o med one long chambe measu ing 5.66 × 2.06 (ca. 11 × 4 cubi s). By e ec ing an in e media y s one wall o 0.77 m wid h, his long chambe was di ided in o a smalle oom o he sou h (Room I: 2.05 × 2.10 m = 4 × 4 cubi s) and a la ge one o he no h (II: 2.80 × 2.00 m, ca. 5.5 × 4 cubi s). The la e was he en ance oom and p o ided access om he cou in o he inne pa o he mas aba. The di iding wall was no bonded o ei he he eas o wes walls. The no he nmos Room IV belongs o he T-shaped chapel ype7and con ained he main o e ing place o he omb. This had been o med as an ex ension and was a small, almos squa e-like niche wi h a alse doo occupying he en i e wes wall. The o e ing place measu ed 1.89 × × 1.73 m in g ound plan ( ig. 4). 30 PES XIX/2017 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) Fig. 4 The main o e ing niche o mas aba AS 65 wi h he des oyed and undeco a ed alse doo (pho o P. Jánosi) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 30 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX/2017 31 The alse doo was buil o wo huge slabs o whi e limes one o unequal size ha we e se up igh . The join be ween hese wo slabs is no e ical, bu sligh ly slan ed. The uppe pa o he alse doo is missing and he op has been wo n away, due o exposu e o wea he ing (see abo e). The o m o he doo consis ed o a simple double- - ecessed alse doo wi hou he o us moulding and he ca e o co nice ypical o he la e pa o Old Kingdom alse doo s (Rusch 1923: 101–124; Vandie 1954: 389–431; Reisne 1942: 372–379; Wiebach-Koepke 1981: 6–10, 133; S udwick 1985: 9–15). The su ace o he alse doo was only supe icially smoo hed and co e ed wi h pink mo a /plas e o hide he une en pa s and c acks. No aces o insc ip ions o elie we e p esen . The wo blocks o he alse doo es on a hi d limes one block which se ed as he base. In con as o he ou e oom, he loo o he chapel consis ed o i egula limes one slabs exhibi ing a ough su ace. No aces o an al a in on o he alse doo we e isible. The eas e n pa o Room IV was o med by a co ido measu ing 7.00 × 1.58 m (13 × 3 cubi s). Fo he building his o y o AS 65, i is in e es ing o no e ha he no h wall o his co ido was bonded o he eas wall, while he wes end o he no h wall was me ely abu ing he eas ace o he mas aba. G a i i and le elling lines we e ound on all walls excep he o e ing place i sel . The sou he n pa o Fig. 5 Plas e co e ing he gaps o he wall. No e he a i icially c ea ed lines in he mo a o indica e he ou lines o he blocks (pho o P. Jánosi) Fig. 6 The se dab o AS 65 ( iew o he eas ) (pho o P. Jánosi) Room IV is longe han he no he n pa , since i p o ided space o he “window” o he se dab, which was si ua ed in he wes wall. Room III o he sou h o he o e ing oom is a simple ec angula co ido (5.1 × 1.5 m, ca. 10 × 3 cubi s) wi h wo small niches in he wes wall. In e es ingly, hese wo niches do no each down o g ound le el, bu s a only om he hi d cou se o he mas aba casing. This oom is he subsidia y o e ing place o he mas aba, p o iding cul places o Sha s 1 and 3. Rooms I and II o he sou h o his co ido oom we e added by ex ending he mas aba’s a chi ec u e o he sou h. Tha hese wo ooms a e a “la e ” addi ion is also clea om he ac ha hey bo h lack an independen eas wall, such as seen in Rooms III and IV. The walls o he ooms we e buil o local limes one o ai ly good quali y (Z-mason y; Reisne 1942: 178–179). The isible su ace o he blocks was d essed, bu wi h he excep ion o ce ain pa s in Room IV, only supe icially smoo hed. The une en pa s, la ge gaps be ween he blocks o aul s and c acks we e co e ed wi h plas e o pinkish colou (in some a eas he mo a was g ey), which in ce ain a eas was hickly applied, co e ing la ge po ions o he su ace o he s ones. This p ocedu e is isible on almos all he walls. I is no ewo hy ha he s onemasons delibe a ely indica ed he join s be ween wo blocks co e ed by he plas e by incising e ical and ho izon al lines in o he we plas e ( ig. 5). The size o he indi idual blocks a ies conside ably om la ge slabs (1.47 × 0.36 m PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 31 no h wall) down o smalle size blocks (13 × 30 cm). The o m o he blocks a ies oo; many a e ec angula , o he s ha e one o e en wo sides slan ing, some exhibi a poin ed angle (eas wall). Despi e hese di e ences, he cou ses o blocks un s aigh h ough in all ooms and he e a e no s eps. The no he n se dab To he sou h o Sha 2, a hidden chambe was unea hed in he co e o he mas aba ( ig. 6). The se dab is a na ow oom (0.98 o 1.07 m wide = o iginally 2 cubi s) unning eas -wes . The walls consis o ou cou ses o well-d essed whi e limes one slabs se in an up igh posi ion. The no h wall was p ese ed o a heigh o 1.10 m, and he sou h wall o 1.25 m. The join s o he blocks we e in some pa s co e ed (as in o he pa s o he mas aba) wi h hick, pinkish mo a , gi ing he su ace o he walls a somewha i egula appea ance. On bo h walls, ho izon al le elling lines in ed we e p e- se ed. No loo blocks we e ound in place and he e is no indica ion ha hey e e exis ed. The wall blocks es ed on deb is consis ing o small limes one chips. The oo , which has disappea ed en i ely, p obably consis ed o limes one slabs se ho izon ally upon he walls. The wes end o he se dab was comple ely missing, while a i s eas end, a co ne o he oom and pa o he sou h wall o ming he squin emained. The oom’s o iginal leng h as well as i s o me heigh can only be guessed, bu he leng h did no exceed 4.5 m. I s heigh was p obably no mo e han 3 cubi s. The (un inished?) wes se dab Be ween he mud b ick casing o AS 31 and he mud b ick mas aba o he sou h, a small space o ca. 3 m emained. In he e o o documen he wes side o AS 65, i was su p ising o no e ha he omb had an ex ension o ca. 3m o he wes ( ig. 1) ha illed ha emp y space. Fo his pu pose, an L-shaped wall was buil unning om AS 65 o he wes and along he no h ace o he mud b ick mas aba; i hen u ned o he no h un il i connec ed wi h he sou h-eas co ne o AS 31. The space wi hin his L-shaped enclosu e was illed wi h coa se local limes one blocks and mud b icks. In e es ingly, he cen e o his cons uc ion showed a conspicuous emp y space which had no ins alla ions, only accumula ed deb is. A e emo ing he deb is, he aces o he sou h-eas co ne o he mud b ick casing o AS 31 we e e ealed ( ig. 7). As such an ex ension o he wes side o a mas aba is qui e unusual, one migh ask wha pu pose his cons uc ion migh ha e se ed. Since no in ac a chi ec u e inside he ex ension emained (excep o he coa se limes one blocks, he mud b ick casing o AS 31 and he wes in e nal wall o AS 65), i could be specula ed ha his small s uc u e was buil o enclose ano he hidden chambe (se dab?), measu ing no mo e han 2.5 × 1.5 m in size. This ex ension mus be associa ed wi h he cons uc ion o Sha 3, which was he la es o he h ee sha s and p obably no en isaged om he beginning (see below). Since Sha 3 is si ua ed u he o he wes in ela ion o Sha 1 and he axis o he mas aba, he omb builde s p obably deemed i necessa y also o ex end he co e cons uc ion o AS 65 wes wa d in o de o p o ide mo e s abili y o he omb’s co e s uc u e. The subs uc u es Mas aba AS 65 con ained h ee sha s, one la ge one (Sha 2) in he no he n hal o he co e, and wo smalle ones (Sha s 1 and 3) in he sou he n pa . The building sequence o hese sha s migh be possible o econs uc , as Sha 2 was buil i s , p obably ollowed soon a e wa ds o e en a he same ime by Sha 1. Sha 3 is a la e addi ion, ega ding i s posi ion and o ien a ion (see below). The main sha (Sha 2) Al hough si ua ed in he no he n pa o he mas aba, Sha 2 mus be conside ed he main sha because o i s size and he spacious bu ial chambe . This is con a y o 32 PES XIX/2017 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) Fig. 7 Sha 3 in he cen e o mas aba AS 65. To he wes ( igh ) he ex ension o AS 65 is isible, showing he emp y space a ound he sou h-eas co ne o he mud b ick casing o AS 31 (pho o P. Jánosi) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 32 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX/2017 33 he usual disposi ion o main sha s in a mul i-sha mas aba, whe e – as a ule – he sou he n sha is he main sha because i is close o he main o e ing oom, which is usually si ua ed in he sou h o he omb s uc u e (Reisne 1936: 285; Junke 1929: 141).8In he case o AS 65, he main sha and also he main o e ing place we e shi ed o he no h.9Due o i s posi ion immedia ely behind he o e ing niche, which ex ends in o he co e o he mas aba, he mou h o he sha was shi ed o he wes om he ombs’s no h-sou h axis. The uppe pa o he sha (ca. 2.15 × 2.15 cm = 4 × 4 cubi s) was buil o mud b icks laid in egula cou ses o heade s and s e che s (b ick size 29 × 14 × 8–9 cm) and p ese ed o ca. 2 m. The ill o he sha consis ed o yellow sand, limes one chips and po she ds, as well as la ge and well-d essed limes one blocks clea ly dumped in o he sha as e ill. Among hem, elie blocks o a ying sizes we e e ie ed, bu hese, howe e , did no belong o AS 65 (Exc. Nos. 25/AS65/2010, 28/AS65/2010), bu we e aken om o he ombs on he si e. Below he mud b ick lining, ough local limes one blocks we e used o build he sha o abou 1.3 m down om he na u al su ace. The su aces o hese blocks we e no d essed and he sha walls appea une en and ough. The dep h o he sha in he local bed ock ( a la) is 7.8 m. The en i e dep h o he p ese ed sha measu es 11.1 m. In he eas wall, an en ance (1.55 × 1.60 m) was cu , opening on o a passage leading o he eas . The o iginal blocking was en i ely gone, bu he opening was comple ely co e ed – up o he ceiling o he passage – wi h a ha dened ill, consis ing o mud, mud b icks, limes one blocks and limes one chips o igina ing om he g adual illing o he sha a e i was abandoned. The subs uc u e consis s o a spacious U-shaped ock-hewn complex. This special o m was employed o b ing he place o he bu ial o he sou h o he sha , as was cus oma y o ea ly mas abas. A na ow and sho passage unning eas u ns in o a 4 m long connec ing passage o ien ed no h-sou h (wid h 4.5 m). This passage opens in o a spacious bu ial chambe o ien ed eas -wes (12.5 × 8.2 m max., ca. 24 × 15.5 cubi s). The wes wall o he bu ial chambe has a 0.87 m high bench (3.3 × × 1.0–1.3 m). In on o i , a ec angula ca i y was oughly hewn in o he loo , measu ing 1.85 × 0.52–0.55 × 0.50 m, which con ained he bu ial o a male pe son. Fo he posi ion o his bu ial in ela ion o he se dab in he supe s uc u e, see he commen a he end o his a icle. The coa sely d essed walls o he subs uc u e we e co e ed wi h a da k mud coa ing and smoo hed wi h a ha d, whi e plas e . The su ace o he la e displayed do s and spo s in ed colou indica ing he no ion o ed g ani e walls o he bu ial chambe . The su ace o he bench and i s on we e also ca e ully co e ed wi h da k mud and whi e plas e . The ceiling was le in i s o iginal s a e, being und essed and unpain ed. In a ew a eas, pa ches o pink mo a co e ing aul s and c acks we e p ese ed. Howe e , la ge po ions o he a la ceiling had collapsed in an iqui y ( ig. 8). Al hough he chambe was comple ely obbed, he bu ial in he pi was le un ouched. The bones o he indi idual we e in poo condi ion, displaying aces o simple mummi ica ion ( he body w apped in linen). Due o he epea ed opening o he subs uc u e and i s accessibili y o a longe pe iod, ain wa e and mud had epea edly pou ed in o he bu ial chambe , illing he chambe loo and bu ial pi . Apa om he c umbling walls and po ions o he ceiling ha had allen in o he pi , he body had become comple ely soaked and, a e he d ying p ocess, had solidi ied in he ha d mud. The body had been laid on i s back; i belonged o a ma u e man. The bones we e in p eca ious condi ion and almos c umbled away du ing he cleaning p ocess. Al hough success ully e ie ed o examina ion om he bu ial pi , hey we e subsequen ly des oyed du ing he loo ing o he 2011 e olu ion. No objec s we e ound wi h he in e men . No agmen s o a lid o o s one slabs o co e ing he pi we e p esen in he chambe . Abo e he bench, in he sou hwes co ne o he chambe , a small ec angula hole, measu ing 30 × 20 cm, Fig. 8 The bu ial chambe o Sha 2 as ound ( iew o he wes ) (pho o M. Bá a) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 33 opens in o he bu ial chambe o Sha 3 lying o he sou h o chambe 2 (see below). The a chi ec u e and he emains ound in his sub- s uc u e clea ly indica e ha he omb owne ini ially in ended a “be e ” bu ial o himsel , which ob iously should also ha e included a s one sa cophagus se up agains he bench. This ins alla ion o a na ow niche cu in o he wes wall o he chambe was used o hold he sa cophagus lid p io o he bu ial.10 Howe e , he omb owne seems o ha e passed away be o e his bu ial place could be inished and a sa cophagus b ough down in o he subs uc u e. The e o e, a “cheape ” and as e ins alla ion – a simple pi in he loo – o he in e men was subs i u ed. Since his in e men was ound wi hou any p o ec ion (such as co e ing slabs o a lid), some doub emains as o he iden i y o he pe son bu ied he e. I migh e y well be a la e (seconda y) ins almen , one no ela ed o he owne o he mas aba. The subsidia y Sha s 1 and 3 Sha 1 and Sha 3 loca ed in he sou h hal o he mas aba co e a e smalle han Sha 2. While Sha 3 (1.75 × 1.65 m) was loca ed almos in he no h-sou h axis o he omb, Sha 1 (1.6 × 1.5 m) was loca ed o he eas .11 Bo h sha s a e qui e close o each o he , bu do no sha e he same o ien a ion; he mou h o Sha 3 being u ned no heas - -sou hwes . The lining o Sha 1 wi h b icks (29–30 × 12–13 × 8 cm) ex ended down o 2.8 o 3.0 m. The en i e dep h o he sha as p ese ed measu es 10.6 m. A he bo om o he sha , wo openings we e de ec ed. The one o he wes was s ill en i ely blocked when unco e ed, while he opening o he eas was only pa ly in ac and e illed wi h allen a la, local limes one blocks, sand and mud. The opening o he wes measu ed 1.2 × 0.8 m and was si ua ed ca. 0.2 m abo e he loo o he sha . I was en i ely illed wi h la ge i egula and und essed local limes one blocks se in ha d mo a , hus o ming a solid massi , o igina ing om he ime o he omb’s cons uc ion. No inds o any o he deposi s apa om he s ones we e ound. This comple ely blocked ca i y is somewha puzzling bu p o ides some clues as o he omb’s building his o y. I migh be in e ed ha o iginally he omb builde s in ended o exca a e he bu ial chambe o he wes o he sha , which would ha e been he no mal posi ion. Maybe a ha poin Sha 3 had al eady been s a ed and would ha e caused p oblems in posi ioning he bu ial chambe o Sha 1. Thus, wo k was hal ed, he gap illed and a new bu ial chambe exca a ed o he eas . The condi ion o he bu ial chambe indica es ha loo ing ook place mo e han once and – as wi h Sha 2 – Sha 1 emained open o qui e some ime. The loo o he passage in o he bu ial chambe is i egula and sligh ly sloping downwa ds. Apa om he ex ensi e damage ca ied ou by omb obbe s wi nessed h oughou he en i e subs uc u e, a la ge po ion o he de e io a ion esul ed om he poo condi ion o he na u al a la, which in many pa s esul ed in he collapse o he ock, lea ing he bu ial chambe in a p eca ious and chao ic s a e. La ge po ions o he ceiling and o he chambe walls – especially in he sou he n and wes e n pa – had en i ely collapsed, co e ing hal o he oom wi h huge s ones and deb is, hus gi ing he chambe an i egula shape. Compa ed o Sha 2 he bu ial chambe o Sha 1 is smalle and less well-p epa ed. The walls we e only coa sely cu om he ock, and no in en ion o he omb builde s o ec i y walls o d ess su aces was obse able. The loo was une en and ca. 35 cm below he loo le el o he sha . In he sou he n pa o he bu ial chambe , he loo emained un inished. No aces o any coa ing o he walls as seen in Sha 2 we e encoun e ed. No bu ial pi was exca a ed and no aces o a limes one sa cophagus o wooden co in we e ound. The max. leng h o he chambe was 4.22 m; i s wid h measu es 2.32 m a he sou h wall; he heigh is 1.55 m. Since he chambe emained un inished, i migh be concluded ha he owne had died and he inishing wo k was hal ed. Along he eas wall, a simple in e men was laid a es .12 The co pse was laid on a sligh ly aised shel cu om he na u al ock. Due o he loo ing and damage caused by na u al e ec s (wa e and mud), howe e , li le o he o iginal bu ial could be disce ned, he body being comple ely decomposed and des oyed. Because o some longe agmen s o bones ound in he sou h and pa s o he head (jaw and ee h) in he no h, i migh be in e ed ha he co pse was o iginally posi ioned head owa ds he no h, ee o he sou h. The bones we e agmen ed and b oken in o small pieces. In uding wa e mixed wi h sand added o he apid decomposi ion o he in e men , which p esen ed i sel as a mix u e o deb is, mud, bone agmen s and o ganic ma e ial. A e ha ing emo ed he i s laye o bone agmen s and mud deb is, a comple e mi o made o coppe (Exc. No. 54c/AS65/2010, diame e 19 cm, hickness ca. 3 mm) was disco e ed embedded in he mud in he sou h (pl. 2). Apa om he co osion due o humidi y, he objec was in e y good condi ion and s ill exhibi s he sho ex ension o ixing he wooden handle – he la e i sel had disappea ed. The mi o was ound in he sou he n pa o he bu ial place and mus ha e been hidden unde nea h he legs o he body, since such a p ecious objec would ha dly ha e been neglec ed by hie es. I should be no ed ha al hough hea ily obbed, no she ds o essels o any kind we e ound in he en i e chambe .13 Sha 3 Al hough Sha 3, which was disco e ed in he all season o 2016 only, is loca ed almos on he no h-sou h axis o he mas aba, i s posi ion is seconda y and ce ainly inse ed be ween Sha 1 o he sou h and he mason y o he se dab o he no h. The mou h o he sha was 1.75 × 1.65 m. The sha ’s dep h om he p ese ed su ace o he bo om was 10.5 m; 3.6–3.8 m a he op lined wi h mud b icks. The ill o he sha con ained he usual deb is mixed wi h po she ds, limes one agmen s and sand. In his ill, howe e , also comple e limes one blocks o igina ing om he casing o AS 65 we e ound. Thus, he back ill o he sha mus ha e occu ed a a ime when AS 65 was al eady in a uined condi ion. F om his ill, a elie block showing a omb owne boa ing wi h his daugh e , Ne e he epes, was e ie ed. I 34 PES XIX/2017 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 34 THE MASTABA OF THE CHIE F P H Y S ICIAN, N -H -P H (AS 65) PES XIX/2017 35 was pa o a ma sh scene (Exc. No. 2/AS65/2016). The elie ce ainly o igina es om ano he omb, since AS 65 was le undeco a ed. The su ace o he block is well p ese ed, exhibi s a well-cu elie and in many places e en p ese ed i s o iginal colou ( ig. 9). F om he bo om o he sha , a simple and na ow bu ial chambe o ien a ed no h-sou h opened o he wes (max. 4.35 × 2.16 × 1.45 m). The chambe was ound in a uined condi ion illed wi h accumula ed deb is, sand and mud b icks as well as la ge pieces o na u al ock allen om he ceiling and he side walls o he chambe . The walls we e only supe icially d essed and he loo slan s om no h o sou h, clea indica ions ha he oom was le un inished. No aces o a bu ial, g a e goods o e en pieces o po e y we e ound in he chambe . In he no heas co ne o he oom and igh unde he ceiling, he b eak h ough (31 × 30 cm) in o he bu ial chambe o Sha 2 opens (see abo e). This opening mus ha e occu ed du ing he p ocess o building he subs uc u e, since in he no he n bu ial chambe he hole was ca e ully blocked wi h mud b icks and co e ed wi h plas e o hide he hole. No such e o was unde aken in Sha 3. Con- side ing he un inished s a e o his subs uc u e, i s dilapida ed condi ion and he absence o any g a e goods, Sha 3 was ob iously ne e used o an in e men . Concluding ema ks In inishing his epo , one impo an obse a ion con- ce ning he layou o AS 65 should be men ioned. The me hod o building his mas aba, he ma e ial employed and he “cheap” wo kmanship pu AS 65 in o he ca ego y o he less-weal hy ombs o his nec opolis. Howe e , by looking mo e closely a he disposi ion o he h ee bu ial chambe s and he posi ion o he cul ins alla ions in he supe s uc u e, one ecognizes a cle e a angemen which should gua an ee he a e li e o he deceased pe sons in ended o be bu ied in AS 65 ( ig. 1). The bu ial chambe o Sha 2 is no only si ua ed o he canonical sou h, bu i is exac ly posi ioned unde nea h he la ge se dab, which ce ainly belonged o he main o e ing place o his omb. In he case o Sha 1, one wonde s i he omb builde s changed hei plan, abandoning he ini ially concei ed bu ial chambe on he wes side in p e e ence o one on he eas , in o de o mo e he bu ial place exac ly unde nea h he sou he n niche o he o e ing oom (Room III). A simila case migh be p oposed o Sha 3, which, as shown abo e, was a la e ins alla ion. The mou h o he sha is exac ly o he wes o he no h niche o o e ing Room III. The bu ial chambe o his sha is si ua ed u he o he wes and unde nea h he cu ious ex ension o he supe s uc u e on he wes side (see abo e), p obably inco po a ing ano he se dab in ended o his bu ial place. The ac ha Sha 3 was abandoned and ne e used migh ha e caused he omb builde s also o hal cons uc ion o he hidden chambe in he supe s uc u e. This would nea ly explain why no hing o his ins almen was ound when exca a ed. I was simply ne e buil . Be ha as i may, despi e i s p esen , agmen ed condi ion, mas aba AS 65 as pa o a huge compound o la e Fi h Dynas y ombs a Abusi Sou h, o e s a weal h o in o ma ion wo hy o u he s udy. No es: 1Fo aluable commen s and help in w i ing his a icle, I ex end my hanks o Hana Vymazalo á and he pee e iewe s. All mis akes emain, o cou se, mine. The line d awing was kindly p epa ed by Elisabe h Maje us. 2A he bo om o Sha 2, bones o ca ni o es, he diges ion o owls, and in he middle o he bu ial chambe , he head o a dog we e ound, con i ming ha o some ime his sha was le open. 3As Hana Vymazalo á kindly poin ed ou o me, i seems plausible ha because o he posi ion o bo h mas abas and he i les o he omb owne s, bo h men we e p obably ela ed o each o he . I is ce ain ha AS 65 was buil a e AS 36. This is also con i med by he po e y co pus ound in bo h s uc u es (see A ias 2017). 4Fo he cu ious ex ension o he mas aba’s açade in o he small space be ween AS 31 and he mud b ick omb, see p. 31. 5This omb consis s o a huge mas aba wi h one sha in he sou h and a ock-cu chapel in he no h, which was en e ed ia he cou o AS 31. G a i i ound on some casing blocks e eal ha he owne was sHD sjnw P H-H p. This mas aba and he omb o Ne e he p ah (AS 65) will be he issue o he nex olume in he Abusi se ies (Dulíko á – Jánosi – A ias Ky na o á – Odle , in p epa a ion). 6AS 64 is ce ainly olde han he inal s age o AS 65. The omb awai s comple e explo a ion in he nea u u e. 7This ype o o e ing oom is common in he la e pa and a he end o he Fi h Dynas y. See, o ins ance, he omb complex o Seshemne e IV and Tje i (Junke 1953: igs. 49, 50). Fig. 9 Relie showing pa o a ma sh scene. Only he lowe pa o a emale igu e s anding on a papy us ski acing igh and he oe o he omb owne a e p ese ed. The woman’s name, p obably a daugh e , was Ne e he epes (pho o M. F ouz) PES XIX_2017_ epo s_3-89_PES 14.12.17 9:32 S ánka 35