Pyramid of Senusret I: Sneferu's fourth pyramid discovered in Fayum region. Pyramid of Senusret I is a four-step pyramid built by King Sneferu Located south of Kafr El-Ham in Egypt's Fayum region Situated approximately 6 miles (10 km) from the Meidum pyramid
King Sneferu may have built the Seila pyramid! Located south of Kafr El-Ham in Egypt's Fayum region. A step pyramid (possibly converted to a true pyramid) on a natural mound — base measured around 30 m per side, reduced to 25 m today due to missing stone. No internal chambers discovered. Artifacts found at the site suggest Sneferu-era attribution. First discovered by Flinders Petrie in 1889/1890 and revisited in 1898 by Ludwig Borchardt.
Key Facts
- Pyramid of Senusret I is a four-step pyramid built by King Sneferu
- Located south of Kafr El-Ham in Egypt's Fayum region
- Situated approximately 6 miles (10 km) from the Meidum pyramid
- Built on top of a natural mound around 20 m in height
- Base measured around 30 m per side, reduced to 25 m today due to missing stone
- Current height under 7 m, originally 7-8 m high
- Made from local limestone with Nile mud and sand mortar
- First described by Flinders Petrie in 19th century as a mastaba
- Ludwig Borchardt identified it as a step pyramid in 1898 and found inscriptions of King Sneferu
- André Pochan visited in 1937, noting its imposing landscape near Lake Moeris
- Jean-Philippe Lauer conducted first serious study in 1962
- C. Wilfred Griggs led extensive excavations in 1980s
- Pyramid is a solid structure with no internal passages or burial chambers
- Archaeologists found broken statue of King Sneferu and stela bearing pharaoh's name
- No sarcophagus or burial chamber present
- Robbers breached the structure in antiquity but found nothing inside
Related site: Pyramid of Sekhemkhet- Buried Pyramid — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: The Mystery of Sneferu's FOURTH PYRAMID: The Pyramid of Seila by Ancient Architects