Ancient Egyptian Minor Cemetery in Giza

Kormysheva Eleonora E., Malykh Svetlana E.

The object of the archaeological study was the minor cemetery near the sacral rock-cut tomb of Khafraankh in Giza (Egypt). Architectural features, archaeological data and ceramic material make it possible to date the cemetery to the IV–VI dynasties, most probably to the V–VI dynasties. The studied tombs reflect a uniform funerary rite, which proves that the buried persons were not rich. Only in one tomb of the 44 found the body was orientated differently, but the position is traditional. In the late Old Kingdom period the cemetery was abandoned. It began to be used again occasionally from the late New Kingdom period and regularly since the Ptolemaic times.

Keywords: archaeology, ancient Egypt, burial rite