Tarkhan (Egypt)

Tarkhan is an ancient Egyptian necropolis, located around 50 km south of Cairo on the west bank of the Nile. The cemetery was excavated in two seasons by Flinders Petrie. Tombs of almost all periods were found, but most importantly many belonging to the time of Egyptian state formation, the Early Dynastic period around 3100 BC. Petrie found more than 2,000 tombs, most of them simple holes in the ground belonging to common people. However, there were also several mastabas of the First Dynasty, decorated with a palace facade.

Seal impression with the name of Narmer from Tarkhan

The most important finds include a tomb with many seal impressions belonging to king Narmer and Tarkhan dress, one of the oldest dresses found in Egypt. The cemeteries of the later periods are called Kafr Ammar, although lying side by side with the earlier tombs. From a Roman period tomb came a Fayum mummy portrait.

Tomb 1060

Tomb 1060 is the oldest and largest mastaba at Tarkhan. It was divided into several rooms, most likely used for storing burial goods, although little survived. In the middle was the underground burial chamber with four small side chambers not connected by doorways, but there were doors incised on the walls acting as symbolic chambers. The niches were painted red; only one niche, with a wooden floor, was unpainted. This might indicate a cult place for the deceased. Around the mastaba there was a wall. The name of the owner is unknown.

  • Contents of tomb 99. 1st century CE. From tomb 99 at Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar), Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
    Contents of tomb 99. 1st century CE. From tomb 99 at Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar), Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
  • Pottery jar, drab ware. The original loop slip is still present. Ptolemaic period. From Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar), Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London
    Pottery jar, drab ware. The original loop slip is still present. Ptolemaic period. From Tarkhan (Kafr Ammar), Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

See also

Bibliography
  • Wolfram Grajetzki: "The architecture and the signification of the Tarkhan mastabas" In: Archeo-Nil 18 (2008), p. 103-112
  • W. Grajetzki, Tarkhan, In: J. Picton, I. Pridden (editors): Unseen Images, Archive Photographs in the Petrie Museum, Volume I: Gurob, Sedment and Tarkhan, London 2008, p. 185-237 ISBN 978-1-906137-04-5
  • W M. Flinders Petrie, G.A. Wainwright, B.A., A.H. Gardiner, D. Litt.: Tarkhan I and Memphis V, London 1913
  • W.M. Flinders Petrie: Tarkhan II, London 1914
  • W.M. Flinders Petrie: Heliopolis, Kafr Ammar and Shurafa, London 1915
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