Dig Days:

The pyramid newly found at Saqqara

By Zahi Hawwas

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Just recently, we found a new pyramid at Saqqara. This discovery was a big surprise. We had never expected to discover a third subsidiary pyramid in the cemetery of King Teti, the first king of the Sixth Dynasty, who reigned more than 4,300 years ago. This new pyramid, which belonged to a queen, was found near the two pyramids of King Teti's wives. We discovered it under a 20-metre high mound of sand, and its remains were five metres high. It was built as a step pyramid with a smooth outer casing, and we found remains of this casing -- spanning about a metre in length -- on the west side. The casing was made of fine white limestone brought from the royal quarry at Tura.

Having measured the angle of the new pyramid at 51 degrees, we were able to determine that the pyramid was originally 14 metres high. This new pyramid is smaller than the two pyramids belonging to Queen Khuit and Queen Iput I that were previously located in the cemetery of King Teti. We have not yet entered the burial chamber, but we think that the owner of this pyramid was probably Queen Sesheshet, the mother of King Teti. We know about Queen Sesheshet from a medical papyrus explaining how the queen was searching for a hair treatment. Hers is the only female royal name left from among Teti's family members, and so it makes sense to assign this pyramid to her. It was discovered in an area that is crucial to the understanding of the Sixth Dynasty's historical beginnings.

During my previous work in this area we explored near the pyramid of Iput I, who history records as the principal wife of King Teti. The second pyramid in the area, assigned to Queen Khuit, was excavated by Firth and Gunn in the last century. Having entered its substructure they located the burial chamber, which contained a granite sarcophagus with its lid, as well as another subsidiary room. Firth and Gunn had to abandon their work on the pyramid of Queen Khuit in order to continue working on the Step Pyramid of Djoser. When we began our work in the Teti cemetery, we unearthed the seven-metre high superstructure of Queen Khuit's pyramid. We also discovered its associated funerary temple. Our study of the Khuit pyramid's architecture demonstrated evidence of its having been built before the pyramid of Queen Iput I. We concluded, therefore, that Khuit was the chief queen of Teti, while Iput I was his second queen.

The recent discovery of this pyramid sheds light on this period. It shows that Teti built a pyramid for his mother, just as Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid, built one for his mother, Hetepheres, to the east of his pyramid at Giza.

Near the new pyramid at Saqqara we also found other artefacts from later periods. The cemetery of King Teti was in use as a burial place from the New Kingdom until the Roman Period. The most exquisite object we found was a beautifully decorated chapel belonging to a person named Nefer-Her, with the decorations showing him worshipping the god Osiris.

This is actually the first time that we have discovered a new pyramid with such a well- preserved superstructure enabling us to see how this pyramid was built: it was begun first as a step pyramid, and the fine white limestone casing was added afterwards. We can therefore determine the angle of the pyramid and imagine its original appearance. After the announcement of the discovery I again went to the pyramid site. We have now reached the entrance of the burial chamber, and when I look at it I can see a large granite block sealing it. I am certain that when we enter the burial chamber we will find a room with a granite sarcophagus, because thieves would never move the sarcophagus. I am also certain that there will be a second chamber near the first. I hope that we will uncover evidence of Queen Sesheshet's name, or perhaps the name of a yet unknown queen. At present, we are still continuously working in the area and we hope to see more amazing artefacts.

How amazing it is that the discovery of this pyramid has captured the hearts of everyone around the world. Even now people stop me on the street and ask me about the new pyramid. Egyptians are proud of this heritage and happy to know that the sands of Egypt still hide many secrets.