Architectural features of the Ancient Egyptian rock-cut tomb of Kaemnefret (LG 63) on the Eastern Field of the Giza Necropolis

Abstract

The article analyses the structural and planning aspects of the ancient Egyptian rock-cut tomb of royal official Kaemnefret (LG 63) in the Eastern Field of the Giza Necropolis, including two hypotheses of plan development, characteristics of the burial shafts, possible reasons for the absence of “false doors”, purpose of the two passages from room 63A to room 63B and identity of the four statues. The distinctive feature of the tomb is the location of the mouth of a burial shaft outside the chapel, which is not typical for rock-cut tombs and may be an imitation of a mastaba, as proved by the design of some burial shafts. The main question addressed in the article concerns the order in which the two groups of shafts located in rooms 63A and 63B were constructed. Thus, two hypotheses on the development of the tomb were suggested. The main hypothesis supports the idea of the primary construction of the shafts in room 63B and only the subsequent emergence of additional burial shafts in room 63A. The alternative hypothesis is based on the idea of a reverse sequence. The absence of a false door in the tomb is most possibly related to its destruction during the reconstruction process; previously, it had probably existed in place of one of the two passages to room 63B. As a result, most of the architectural criteria allow to date the tomb fairly broadly to the V–VIth Dynasties and only a few details allow to narrow the dating to the late Vth – VIth Dynasties.