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During the 16th-18th campaign of the German Archaeological Institute at the royal necropolis of Abydos/Umm el-Qaab in 2001/02, 2002/03, and 2003/4, fieldwork was carried out in the predynastic cemetery U, in cemetery B, at the tombs of Dewen, Semerkhet, Peribsen, and Chasechemui. The study of pottery and small finds was continued. Cemetery U: The clearance of 15 graves in the north-eastern part completed the work in cemetery U. All tombs date to Naqada I. Except for one intact burial (U-658), they were all disturbed by robbers or earlier excavations. Most tomb pits were rather small (ca 1-1,50 m x 1 m); only one was larger (2,50 m x 2,30 m) and seems to have been more richly equipped (U-647). Cemetery B: To the north-west of Narmer's tomb a mound of old excavation debris and wind-blown sand was removed and sifted. Large amounts of LP offering pottery, a lot of vine-jar fragments of Aha and Djer as well as some stone vessel sherds and fragments of ivory objects were found. There were no indications of any tomb pits in the cleaned area. Geomagnetic surveys were carried out between cemetery U and cemetery B and in an area covering ca. 25 m x 30 m to the south of Peribsen's tomb in order to determine if there was any brickwork of unknown structures. The result was negative. Tomb of Dewen: To the south-east of Dewen's tomb more deposits of Early Dynastie and LP material were discovered after the removal of spoil heaps. Some additions can be made to the offering place partly cleared during the 15th season which had material from the tomb of Djer: An inscribed cylindrical pot with a list of 10 names, a bowl with a projecting ring perforated with small holes below the rim which may have served for the insertion of sprouts, and a large vessel for brewing. Two neighbouring pits contained intentionally destroyed pottery. Included were several ovoid bowls, beer jars, and two smaller vats as well as fruits and broken bricks. Two rows of vessels arranged on either side of a path point to the tomb of Djer. These and several heaps of small offering bowls (qaab) can be dated to the LP. Rather enigmatic are two deposits: three plaster casts of a Harpocrates statue which were found in a pit to the west of the two rows of vessels; and a treasure divided between two small and two larger vessels which were found in two pits between the rows of vessels. These vessels contained a large number of lapis inlays (ca. 6.5 kg), some turquoise inlays, and a large amount of thick gold sheets from the cover of a coffin which were smashed together. There was also gold foil, a bronze amulet in the form of a seated baboon holding an inscribed seal tablet, a small gilded figure of Osiris in silver, and sherds from two vessels, and all this was mixed with sand and resin soaked strips of linen, small fragments of wood, and tiny pieces of bone. These are the remains of a rather rich burial which according to the pottery may be dated to the 4th century B. C. Tomb of Semerkhet: After the removal of spoil heaps, the upper part of the brick walls were revealed and recorded. There are several discrepancies in PETRIE'S plan. In general, the tomb and the chambers are not as rectangular as drawn, and at the southwestern corner where he indicated three chambers in dotted lines, there are actually five chambers. In two of these 'new chambers' there were remains of skeletons and wooden coffins. These subsidiary burials are so far the first found in situ during the investigations of the German Institute. Obviously, PETRIE never excavated these chambers. Another peculiarity of this tomb is the use of taffl as plaster in some subsidiary chambers, while several other chambers were never plastered. The finds comprise the usual groups: pottery, stone vessel fragments, jar stoppers, pieces of furniture, especially inlays from boxes, copper bits, some tools and jewelry. Noteworthy are several seal impressions of Qa'a who buried Semerkhet, and a quartz fragment with an inscription of Adjib. Tomb of Peribsen: The tomb was excavated completely. In contrary to all the other tombs so far investigated, it never underwent different building phases but was built in one stage. There are only a few adjustments to the foundation layers in the chambers to the west of the king's chamber, and a secondary wall was added near the northern exit of the royal chamber. As is shown by the bad quality of the plastering, the tomb seems to have been built in great haste. In the southern wall of the king's chamber, which in AMELINEAU'S time was already found collapsed, an entrance could be determined. At the entrance/exit in the southwestern corner of the tomb, a stepped ramp was revealed. Only a few types of pottery and stone vessels can be safely dated to Peribsen; among the small finds there are some copper tools, bracelet fragments, and a few seal impressions of Sekhemib. Tomb of Khasekhemwy: During the final season of the excavation of the tomb, it was revealed that the tomb pit extends z8 m beyond the entrance to the south. Obviously, another enlargement of the tomb was intended. In the southwestern corner of the pit, there was a ramp leading up to the desert surface like in the tomb of Peribsen. These ramps most likely are oriented to the opening of the Wadi which was regarded to be the entrance to the other world. The corridor ascends between the southernmost chambers. In the two southeastern-most chambers, robber's passages were found. Later activities are indicated by dry brickwork walls in the eastern part of the tomb pit that date to the Coptic Period. The reused bricks are of a large size and probably were collected from remains of Middle Kingdom structures serving the cult of Osiris. The site of the royal stelae can be placed near the southern end of the tomb where several small fragments of a second stela of Khasekhemwy were found above rows of small LP offering vessels.
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