The Pyramid Cemetery of Dahshur

The extensive desert necropolis of Dahshur covers an area of 6 x 2.5 km. It is located about 30 km south of Cairo on the western bank of the Nile and south of the other major pyramid sites of Giza, Saqqara and Abusir.

Dahshur was founded by king Sneferu (4th dynasty, ca. 2600 BC) and during his reign used as the royal necropolis, including two pyramids of the king and numerous mastaba tombs of his family and entourage. Cultic activities on his pyramids were carried out by priest throughout the whole Old Kingdom (more than 400 years until 2200 BC). These priests lived in pyramid towns near the edge of the cultivated land and were buried in Dahshur. During the Middle Kingdom (ca. 1900-1700 BC) the site was once more used as royal burial ground for the kings Amenemhet II, Sesostris III, Amenemhet III and kings of the 13th dynasty as well as their families and court officials. Cultic activities on the temple of the Bent Pyramid were resumed by priests in the middle of the 12th dynasty.

In addition to researching the pyramids, cemeteries and sanctuaries, our work also focusses on exploring the settlements and infrastructural facilities from the time of the pyramid construction by employing archaeological, iconographic, geophysical, geomorphological and photogrammetric methods.

The project also seeks to contextualize Dashur in its ancient environment by studying changes and anthropogenic transformations of the ancient landscape. The aim of the project is a chronologically differentiated, GIS-supported reconstruction of the ancient landscape of Dahshur with its archaeological monuments.