Archaeologists Uncover Rare Egyptian Funerary Boat Near Pyramid - History in the Headlines
The Abusir necropolis, located between the more famous Giza and Saqqara sites in northern Egypt, is known for its pyramids, built for the Fifth-Dynasty pharaohs Sahure, Neferirkare and Neuserre (c.2465–c.2325 B.C.). But a recent expedition there by a team of Czech archaeologists turned up an exciting find from an even earlier period of Egypt’s history: a more than 60-foot-long funerary boat found buried near a mastaba (tomb) dating to the early Fourth Dynasty, circa 2550 B.C. As ancient Egyptian boat burials were usually reserved for members of the royal family, mystery surrounds the identity of the tomb’s owner. Still, archaeologists hope the well-preserved condition of the boat will shed significant light on the burial practice, as well as on the shipbuilding techniques of ancient Egypt.
The practice of burying wooden boats alongside the tombs of Egyptian royals began in the Early Dynastic Period, just after the reunification of upper and lower Egypt around 3100 B.C. Egyptologists still debate the exact significance of the boat burials. Some believe the vessels were intended as barges to carry the deceased ruler down the mighty Nile River to the afterlife. Alternatively, the boats could have been intended to provide transportation through the unknown waters of the underworld. In any case, they clearly played a crucial role in the elaborate rituals surrounding royal funerals in ancient Egypt. Some pharaohs during the Old Kingdom (Third to Sixth Dynasties) even had several boats buried alongside them as part of their
pyramid complexes.
In most cases, unfortunately, not much has survived of these wooden funerary boats. Either they were dismantled back in ancient times, and the pits where they were buried were found empty, or they disintegrated, leaving the pits full of brown dust. One notable exception was found back in 1954 in the Great Pyramid built for the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khufu in Giza. That vessel, which had been buried in pieces, was painstakingly reconstructed and put on display in all of its 144-foot-long glory.
The Abusir necropolis, located between the more famous Giza and Saqqara sites in northern Egypt, is known for its pyramids, built for the Fifth-Dynasty pharaohs Sahure, Neferirkare and Neuserre (c.2465–c.2325 B.C.). But a recent expedition there by a team of Czech archaeologists turned up an exciting find from an even earlier period of Egypt’s history: a more than 60-foot-long funerary boat found buried near a mastaba (tomb) dating to the early Fourth Dynasty, circa 2550 B.C. As ancient Egyptian boat burials were usually reserved for members of the royal family, mystery surrounds the identity of the tomb’s owner. Still, archaeologists hope the well-preserved condition of the boat will shed significant light on the burial practice, as well as on the shipbuilding techniques of ancient Egypt.
The practice of burying wooden boats alongside the tombs of Egyptian royals began in the Early Dynastic Period, just after the reunification of upper and lower Egypt around 3100 B.C. Egyptologists still debate the exact significance of the boat burials. Some believe the vessels were intended as barges to carry the deceased ruler down the mighty Nile River to the afterlife. Alternatively, the boats could have been intended to provide transportation through the unknown waters of the underworld. In any case, they clearly played a crucial role in the elaborate rituals surrounding royal funerals in ancient Egypt. Some pharaohs during the Old Kingdom (Third to Sixth Dynasties) even had several boats buried alongside them as part of their
pyramid complexes.
In most cases, unfortunately, not much has survived of these wooden funerary boats. Either they were dismantled back in ancient times, and the pits where they were buried were found empty, or they disintegrated, leaving the pits full of brown dust. One notable exception was found back in 1954 in the Great Pyramid built for the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khufu in Giza. That vessel, which had been buried in pieces, was painstakingly reconstructed and put on display in all of its 144-foot-long glory.