Thebes - Egittologia Pisa

Excavations and archaeological projects of the University of Pisa in the area of Thutmosis temple

On the opposite bank of the Nile, normally called “Thebes west”, the great Libyan mountain overlook the landscape. Used as necropolis since the Middle Kingdom, it was chosen by the New Kingdom pharaohs for their eternal abodes – the secret rock tombs – accompanied by the funerary temples lining up along the edge of the fields.

There are: the Valley of the Kings, the Valley of the Queens, the tombs of the nobles, the workers’ village of Deir el Medina, the temple of Queen Hatshepsut in Deir el Bahari, the Ramesseum of Ramesses II in Gurna, the temple of Amenhotep III (of which the two Colossi of Memnon remain), the mortuary temple of Thutmose IV, the mortuary temple of Seti I and, further south, in Medinet Habu, the great temple of Ramesses III.

Between 1973 and 1981 the archaeological excavation of the University of Pisa (although in the early years the mission was Milan-Pisan) in Gurna focused on the area of the Thutmosis IV mortuary temple (1425-1405 BC) with important discoveries. These gave many new information about a Middle Kingdom necropolis, where three tombs were investigated (T 73, T 79, T 81), in addition to one (T. Petrie) that had been explored by the English archaeologist in 1896.

The mortuary temple of Thutmosis IV was built in the area of the ancient necropolis. Largely explored by F. Petrie in 1896, the temple is identifiable in its original structure, even if it is in a state of great decay. It shows two terraces connected by ramps which recall the architecture type of Hatshepsut’s temple in Deir el Bahari. As this one, it also included the use of monumental Osiris figures attached to square pillars, of which many fragments that still preserved the original colors and some relief were found. In the middle of the second terrace, on the south side, in a small cavity dug into the ground, the remains of a foundation deposit with two faience plaques with the name of the pharaoh were found.

One of the steles commemorating the victories of Thutmosis IV over “the vile country of Nubia” was found on the south wall of the terrace; those commemorating the victories over Asia on the north wall. The two service facilities (the “House of Wine” and “House of Bread”) were used for special offers for ceremonies and temple daily life.

Tomb of Nebneteru

In the south-west area, at a higher level than the “house of three ovens”, investigations proved that the funerary chapel attributed by F. Petrie to the goldsmith of Ammon Khonsuirdis was actually of the vizier Nebneteru and therefore dated between the 24^th and 25^th dynasty, with a use continuing even in later period.
The chapel of Nebneteru is built on a high ground, almost entirely formed by buttresses of raw bricks marked with the cartouche of Thutmosis IV which come from the dismantling of the wall of its temple. Three shafts lead to three sanctuaries. The southern shaft leads to the underground burial chamber of Nebneteru, where the wooden coffin and four wonderful canopy jars of Nebneteru were found. The jar with the human head lid (the funerary genius Imsety) was hidden in the west corner by a kind of mud sarcophagus that occupied the room and isolated the wooden coffin. The central shaft was intended for lady Kara(ma)ma, daughter of Anekh-Unnefer, vizier and governor of Tehne-Acoris, and probably Nebneteru’s wife. Some objects belonging to her were found: an inscribed canopic jar, shabtis, funerary wooden masks, canopies without inscriptions and other masks. The third room was intended for Khaemhor, of Montuemhat’s family, governor of Thebes. The tomb was also used for other individuals, such as the scribe of the letters Hor, the prophet of Montu Montuemhat, son of Psamtek, and the goldsmith of Ammon Khonsuirdis. Other shafts were dug in the courtyard and used in the later period (at least until the 4^th century BC).

Upper Chapel

The “Upper Chapel” was discovered immediately above and to the west of the “House of three ovens” and is lined with the wall of the Temple of Thutmosis IV. It is a small temple, a funerary chapel, built of raw bricks. The construction reused large bricks of royal type, with the cartouche of Amenhotep III, whose funerary temple is very close and marked by the famous “Colossi of Memnon”. However, the Chapel, which probably belongs to one of the sons of Ramesses II, has to be dated in the Ramessid period. It preserves an altar with a stone offering table on the mass of raw bricks. Moreover, a large quantity of pottery from the New Kingdom, even painted, were found.

House of three hovens

The “House of three ovens”, as it was called, is one of the greatest archaeological discoveries made during the exploration of the Gurna area. This building, a simple civil house that recalls the Amarna typology, is placed immediately outside the southeast corner of the temple. The house was probably used as a temporary dwelling by the work supervisor during the construction of the temple, and then abandoned and covered at the end of the works. Therefore, the building can be certainly dated to the reign of Thutmosis IV, as well as the rich clay furnishings found in situ in the many rooms (kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, courtyard, stairway to the roof terrace, service hallway with the three ovens still in good condition).

Tomb 73

The entrance to T73 was hidden by the southern massif foundations of the second pylon of the temple. The underground complex was used as a family tomb between the 11^th and 17^th dynasties. As in other Middle Kingdom Theban tombs of the same type, the walls were devoid of decoration. The tomb had been looted in ancient times but still contained a rich mass of material: coffin fragments with painted decorations, a painted funeral mask, a gold earring, many faience beads, fragments of decorated ivory and three clay offering tables.

Tomb 79

Tomb 79 looks the area used to build the upper terrace of the temple of Thutmosis IV. Dated to the Middle Kingdom, it consists of a narrow courtyard, a hallway and a small room. The continuation of the hallway towards the south was planned, but the work was interrupted, probably due to a particularly hard rock lode. Looted in Greek-Roman times, the tomb, however, conserved an important ceramic series of the 12^th dynasty and four beautiful clay offering tables.

Tomb 81

Tomb 81 is cut into the metamorphic sedimentary rock which constitute the upper layer of the Middle Kingdom necropolis. The courtyard leads to a small underground burial chamber, where at least four people were buried. Two girls were found in the courtyard. Their bodies, lying in a poor wooden box without decorations, show no traces of mummification. The hair is braided and the necks are adorned with necklaces made of small cornelian and faience beads.
In the burial chamber was found the body of a three months old child, lying on the right side in a wooden coffin. Next to his coffin, in correspondence with his head, the only object of his grave goods was found: a terracotta vessel characteristic of the Middle Kingdom.
The courtyard of T81 and most of its underground chamber were cluttered with a large amount of fragmentary vases and small objects: glass, faience fragments, and even a beautiful necklace pendant in yellow faience. The courtyard had been used as a place of unloading and then covered and leveled at the end of the construction of Thutmosis IV temple.