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Vol.05.p.078

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 78

December 30, 1912 (continued)

[G 2381 A, continued]
chips and dirt has dribbled in, and scattered through this mound are three copper points, a chisel, a vase, and various bones (a wishbone) visible.
It is most remarkable to open an absolutely intact grave of this sort and find the furniture deposited in this helter-skelter style.
[ILLUSTRATION]
After photographing what could be seen from the door, I stepped in carefully along north wall and set the camera for photograph a. Photo b was then taken and as the light was falling we had to stop. West and I had lunch at the side of the shaft and never left it all day. On quitting, I covered the mouth of the shaft with beams and boards, spread a canvas over that, and weighted it with boulders. I left Reis Said with twenty men to guard the place tonight, and gave them a sovereign to buy food and tobacco. Luckily the men are Moslems, and do not drink.
This is the most interesting grave chamber I have ever seen, and contains the finest lot of small objects I have found in the Pyramid cemetery.

microfilm: end page 78

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    12/30/1912
  • Mentioned on page
    Louis Caulton West, American, 1882–1972
    Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

Tombs and Monuments 1

  • G 2381

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

People 3

Modern People

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Louis Caulton West

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1882–1972
    • Remarks Worked on the MFA-Harvard expedition from 1912-1914 according to the preface of George A. Reisner's, "A History of the Giza Necropolis, Vol I." Harvard graduate, c.1912.

  • Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1908–1926. In his "A History of the Giza Necropolis I," George A Reisner described Said Ahmed Said as "the most gifted foreman who ever worked for the expedition." Father of Mohammed Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Head Reis 1936–1939), Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator), Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]. Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.