In 1903-1904, George A. Reisner excavated tombs at the Wadi Cemetery near Giza's Great Pyramid. Buried beneath dump debris from early Khufu's reign, hundreds of photos were taken but no comprehensive maps or reports. Over 100 years later, the Giza Archive Project created the first modern sketch plan. A hidden pre-Khufu cemetery revealed!
Pre-Khufu Wadi Cemetery discovered at Giza (Pyramids) beneath ancient dump
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Key facts
- Wadi Cemetery located north of Western Cemetery, adjacent to Mastaba G2000 near the Great Pyramid
- Excavated in 1904 by George A. Risner
- Found beneath an ancient dump containing cleared debris from early Khufu's reign
- Risner and team of 150 men cleared area measuring 40 by 30 meters
- Discovered 77 ancient tombs numbered GW1-23
- 243 photographs were taken but no maps, plans or detailed reports were published
- Diane Victoria Flores of Giza (Pyramids) Archive Project reconstructed photographic history creating first sketch plan in over 100 years
- Two distinct levels of mortuary architecture discovered: older isolated single burial mastabas and later larger compound mastabas
Sources
Harvard Archaeologist's Burial Monument is Restored in Egypthmane.harvard.edu
In 1903, he jumped at the chance to excavate the cemeteries surrounding the famous Giza Pyramids, just west of Cairo. ... The monument marking Reisner's burial in ...
The 'lost' Wadi Cemetery (Giza Archives Gleanings, III)researchgate.net
The earliest excavations undertaken by George A. Reisner at Giza are summarised, including a little-known area dubbed the Wadi Cemetery, to the north of the ...
George Reisnerharvardmagazine.com
Honing his new craft first at sites in Middle Egypt, he jumped at the opportunity in 1903 to excavate the cemeteries surrounding the famous Giza ...
George Andrew Reisner | Egyptologist, Archaeologist ...britannica.com
George Andrew Reisner was a U.S. archaeologist who directed many excavations in Egypt and Nubia (Nilotic Sudan) and discovered the tomb of ...
“On the Early History of Giza: The “Lost” Wadi Cemetery ...academia.edu
Reisner's 1903-1904 excavations uncovered 77 tombs, revealing earlier mortuary practices at Giza. Significant artifacts include a lintel of ...
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