The Minor Cemetery at Giza, Unpublished Manuscript, Chapter I: The Minor Cemetery, p.004

Diary Transcription:

Unpublished manuscript transcription: begin page 4

2. Conditions

Beyond the limits of the area already opened, the surface of the ground presented little evidence of the character of the tombs beneath or of the general plan of the area (Pl. I). The surface was regular, with a slight slope towards the north. Here and there patches of harder material, stone chips or debris surrounded by patches of yellow drift sand, sometimes marked the difference between solid structures and open spaces. This plateau is exposed to severe wind and all masonry especially brick was subjected to a gradual but steady detrition. At some places the wind had spread over the surface a thin layer of detritus made up of the filling of the mastabas, bits of stone, brick and pottery mixed with the inevitable sand.

The tops of many of the mastabas, especially those with stone casings or facings were just below this layer

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