Vol.04.p.067

Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 67

Friday, December 20, 1912

Pit G 2382 B, finished. Inclined shaft G 2381 C still unfinished. Potsherd of Old Kingdom found: [ILLUSTRATION]

Clearing northern part of Senedem-ib = Mehy [Senedjemib Mehi, G 2378], no pit appears, but mud-brick walls forming rooms filled with stones.

Clearing G 2385 H, came on hole in floor filled with stones thrown down. Among these stones, a small wooden statuette [12-12-207] and a large one [12-12-206], two-thirds life-sized (or three-quarters). Waxed small statuette which appears to be in bad condition, and took it up.

Mr. and Mrs. Latimer to dinner.

Saturday, December 21, 1912

Junker came to discuss work.

In afternoon, cleared larger wooden statue [12-12-206] and got it out without damage. It is a beautiful example of Egyptian portraiture in wood, and in remarkably good condition. The eyes were inlaid (probably copper and colored stone) but the inlays are missing. The body is unclothed and shows circumcision of the male organ. The modeling is very fine, especially that of the face. It is indeed a great piece.

It was not clear that this hole filled with stones was a thieves' hole leading to a large sloping passage, the burial place of Mehy (G 2378), similar to those below on the east (G 2370 A, G 2381 A, G 2381 C, G 2382 A, G 2385 A, G 2387A). In fact this passage under G 2385 H (to be called G 2387 A) is directed over and west of G 2387 A. Later the room G 2385 H was built over the passage G 2378 A, and still later the thieves broke through the floor of G 2385 H, hunting treasure, and so came on the passage and penetrated into the interior. On refilling the hole, the statues were thrown in among the stones. They must have been in sound condition at the time as they would otherwise have been smashed.

microfilm: end page 67