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Vol.01.p.001

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Diary Transcription:

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BMFA I and IIa Diary III
Pyramid Excavations
1909 - 10

Friday, December 3, 1909

Work laid out at lower temple. Strip width of building and extending 20 meters towards south. The strip is divided among five gangs, who are to remove surface sand only. Two lines of railway have been laid out, one running towards rocky bluff to southeast the other diverging towards the southwest.
In the portion of temple excavated last year, large portions of the surfaces of walls have crumbled. This is especially true of the small court XIV at the small rooms along the north corridor VI-XV.

Several new tombs have been put up in the Moslem cemetery to the east on the side nearest the temple. There still exists a clear space about 60-70 meters between the cemetery and the present east limits of excavation, and it is reasonably sure to expect that the east limits of the temple can be reached this side of the cemetery.

The walls of the upper temple are in pretty good shape, very little disintegration having taken place.

Saturday, December 4, 1909

The five gangs are taking off a strip 1 meter deep the full length of 20 meters. All the Egyptian foremen have returned and the force at work today numbered sixty nine.

Sunday, December 5, 1909 to Sunday December 12, 1909

During this week Mr. Fisher was confined to house under care of Dr. Wakeling.

The work continues on sand strip, which has now been carried to a depth of 1.5 - 2 meters. Mr. Timble reported on Saturday that a number of pits had been excavated in the sand, several to a depth of 3 meters. Thus far no walls of the latest stratum have appeared.

Monday, December 13, 1909

I arrived from Constantinople.
The force at work was ninety three including four photographic boys and the guards.

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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
    12/03/1909 through 12/13/1909
  • Mentioned on page
    Clarence Stanley Fisher, American, 1876–1941
    Dr. Wakeling
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942
    Mr. Timble
    Menkaure
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

Tombs and Monuments 2

People 6

Ancient People

  • Menkaure

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Remarks Fifth king of Dynasty 4. Son of Khafre. Husband of Khamerernebti II. Builder of the Third Pyramid at Giza. Known two thousand years later by the Greeks as King Mycerinus.

Modern People

  • Clarence Stanley Fisher

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1876–1941
    • Remarks Archaeologist and architect. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Dr. Wakeling

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • 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.

  • 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.

  • Mr. Timble

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates