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Vol.03.p.003

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 3

Tuesday, January 2, 1912 (continued)

to carry us pretty well through this season.
This evening I showed Reis Abu-el-Hasan where to place the men early tomorrow. There is a large hollow space to the southwest of area to be excavated which evidently contains no tombs. Trial pits will however be dug over it to make sure of this before the great dump is started.

Wednesday, January 3, 1912

The rest of the men with Reis Said arrived this morning. There are four companies as last season, and these are scattered over the proposed dumping area. There are eighty-five men on the pay sheets today, including guards here and at Girga.
In all today eight pits were sunk at irregular distances and in every case had to be sunk several meters before rock was reached. Sand only, except in pit nearest last mastaba to west in third row from south, in which were small rough stones and debris. It would seem that this area was a quarry for stone used either in the pyramids cores or for the mastabas. As soon as these pits are finished the double railway will be laid out running into the road between rows 3-4.
The area to the northeast of these containing no larger mastabas, will not be started until Dr. Reisner arrives as these lie almost

microfilm: end page 3

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
    01/02/1912; 01/03/1912
  • Author
    Clarence Stanley Fisher, American, 1876–1941
  • Mentioned on page
    Abu el-Hasan (Reis)
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942
    Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)

Tombs and Monuments 1

People 4

Modern People

  • Abu el-Hasan (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates

  • Clarence Stanley Fisher

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

  • 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.

  • 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.