Tomb of Kai (early to mid 5th dynasty prince) also contains palace facade carved onto exterior on southern and eastern sides facing Wadi and Nile. Tomb of Kai (early to mid 5th dynasty prince) also contains palace facade carved onto exterior on southern and eastern sides facing Wadi and Nile Rock-cut entrance projection with single repeated niches on all three exposed sides predates Kai's burial Mudbrick superstructure added later obscured sections of niched palace facade decoration carved onto bedrock
New research on Saqqara's central field reveals it was an active limestone quarry in the Old Kingdom before becoming a mastaba field. Palace facade decoration—originally from Mesopotamia—appeared in pre-dynastic northern Egypt as a symbol of emerging elite power, later adopted for early dynastic palaces, royal tombs, and royal sarcophagi. Member of the Saqqara Research team sharing cutting-edge Egyptology!
Key facts claimed:
- Tomb of Waserif-Re (early to mid 5th dynasty prince) also contains palace facade carved onto exterior on southern and eastern sides facing Wadi and Nile
- Rock-cut entrance projection with single repeated niches on all three exposed sides predates Waserif-Re's burial
- Mudbrick superstructure added later obscured sections of niched palace facade decoration carved onto bedrock
- Niche decoration was not added to mudbrick element, suggesting existing decoration was not important to Waserif-Re's burial project
- Adjacent tomb of unknown 5th dynasty official built against already-eroded palace facade decoration of Waserif-Re's tomb
Key Facts
- Tomb of Kai (early to mid 5th dynasty prince) also contains palace facade carved onto exterior on southern and eastern sides facing Wadi and Nile
- Rock-cut entrance projection with single repeated niches on all three exposed sides predates Kai's burial
- Mudbrick superstructure added later obscured sections of niched palace facade decoration carved onto bedrock
- Niche decoration was not added to mudbrick element, suggesting existing decoration was not important to Kai's burial project
- Adjacent tomb of Nizerup Puneta (5th dynasty) built against already-eroded palace facade decoration of Kai's tomb
- Substantial erosion and time gap between decoration of Kai's tomb and construction of Nizerup Puneta's tomb implies decoration predates 5th dynasty, likely pre-4th dynasty
- Diagram in Colin Reader's work suggests palace facade decoration of Khentkawes and Kai may represent continuous project predating both structures
Related site: Saqqara, Mastaba of Kagemni — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: NEW | Giza Before the Pyramids: The Tombs of Khentkawes & Kai by Ancient Architects