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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 61

Friday, March 15, 1912 (continued)

Lepsius 23 [= G 2000] found a fragment of a large alabaster jar. [ILLUSTRATION] Two days ago - Wednesday - we found in this pit three large stone hammers. One of these was made from a slate statue. There were also four rubbing stones (two of fine black stone).

Saturday, March 16, 1912

Mastaba G 2191, pit B. (see page 59[in the diary]). In the dirt filling cast down in the northwest corner of the pit about 130 cm from the top was found the head of a life-size portrait statue of red granite [MFA 12.1487]. It is perfect, beautifully modeled but the surface is not polished. The paint still shows on the eyeballs especially the red of the iris. This was about two o'clock. Rowe was present. The negatives were at once developed and the head was taken out about 4:30. The pit was emptied further for about a meter but up to sunset no more fragments were found. The fragments found in the exterior chapel of G 2200 [= G 5080] evidently belong to the same statue. The head is therefore in all probability a portrait of Seshem-nefer.

Mastaba G 2185. In the debris of the corridor found this morning the feet and basis of the figure No. 3 (headless). Also some more fragments of the stelae.

Most of the force turned on to the space north of G 2150.

[G 2130]
Have finished a test hole in the north addition

microfilm: end page 61

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
    03/15/1912; 03/16/1912
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942
  • Mentioned on page
    Louis Earle Rowe, American
    Seshemnefer [II] (G 5080)

Tombs and Monuments 6

  • G 2000

    • Site Name Western Cemetery
  • G 2130

    • Site Name Western Cemetery
  • G 2150

    • Site Name Western Cemetery
  • G 2185

    • Site Name Western Cemetery
  • G 2191

    • Site Name Western Cemetery
  • G 5080

    • Site Name Western Cemetery

People 3

Ancient People

  • Seshemnefer [II] (G 5080)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Remarks Owner of G 5080. Pillars and jambs of court entrance and north and south false doors inscribed for Seshemnefer, identified as [jmj-r sSw a nswt Hrj-sStA n wDt-mdw nb nt nswt jmj-r kAt nb nswt sS Xrt-a nswt sS a nswt n sbAjt nswt Hrj-sStA n Xrt-a nswt jmj-r (pr) aHAw m prwj] overseer of royal document scribes, secretary of every royal decree, overseer of all royal works, scribe of the royal document-case, royal document scribe of the royal instructors, secretary of the royal document-case, overseer of (the house of) weapons in the two houses; also appears in chapel relief (west, south, and east walls); in situ in G 5080. Red granite sarcophagus (33-4-19 = Cairo JE 60541) inscribed for Seshemnefer; found in situ in G 5080 B.

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 Earle Rowe

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American
    • Remarks Docent at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, beginning 1907; then Assistant in the Egyptian Department, 1910-1912. Field Assistant on Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Expedition in 1912. Director of RISD, 1912-1937.