Saqqara (Egypt), 2017

Saqqara

Dates of work: 23 April–18 May 2017

Team

Director: Dr. Kamil O. Kuraszkiewicz (Department of Egyptology, Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Warsaw)
SCA representative: Tamer Ragab Abdallah Abd El-Motaleb
Archaeologists: Prof. Dr. Karol Myśliwiec, Małgorzata Radomska, Dr. Teodozja Rzeuska, ceramologist (all Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Sciences), Agnieszka Kowalska (independent), Dr. Iwona Kozieradzka-Ogunmakin, bioarchaeologist (University of Manchester)
Architect: Beata Błaszczuk (freelance)
Conservators/restorers: Iwona Ciszewska-Woźniak (freelance), Ahmad Abd al-Azim Ahmad (Ministry of Antiquities, Saqqara)
Photographer: Jarosław Dąbrowski (freelance)
SCA inspector trainees: Amira Hamdi Mortaga and Galal Fathi

 

The western bank of the Dry Moat continued to be the main target of investigations in the 2017 field season, uncovering another section of the Upper Necropolis in front of Chapel 13 and exploring the burial chamber of Chapel 32 situated below that of Ikhi/Mery. The latter work resulted in the discovery of an intact burial of an anonymous Fifth Dynasty official. Conservation work remained an important part of the program.

Acknowledgments

The mission would like to thank His Excellency Dr. Khaled Al-Anany, Minister of Antiquities, as well as Mr. Hani Abu El-Azm, Director of the Permanent Committee, and Dr. Mohamed Ismail, General Supervisor for Foreign Missions of the Permanent Committee, for their kindness and friendly suport at every stage of our work.

The program was successfully implemented thanks to the good will and wise decisions of the Direction of the Inspectorate of Antiquities at Saqqara. Our gratitude goes in particular to Mr. Sabri Farag, General Director of Saqqara, as well as Mr. Mohammed Youssef, Director of Saqqara, and Chief Inspectors Mr. Mohammed Hussein Mohamed Hendawi and Mr. Hamdi Amin. The Chief Rais of the mission, Mr. Said Kereti, extremely helpful as usual, was accompanied by a rais in charge, Mr. Imad Guburi.

Text: Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 27/1