The Minor Cemetery at Giza, Unpublished Manuscript, Chapter II: Mastaba Types and Construction, p.015

Diary Transcription:

Unpublished manuscript transcription: begin page 15

The color varied from a dark gray (almost pure Nile mud) to a yellowish brown, when then clay was mixed with the yellow sand of the plateau. The earlier bricks were small, with the length 0.5 cm. to 1.0 cm. more than twice the width, to allow for the joint when bonding. The thickness bore no apparent relio to the other dimensions, as the bricks were rarely laid on edge. When this was done, for example in making up from an uneven surface to make a level footing, a lavish use of mud mortar, bits of brick and stone chaps made up for an irregularities caused by the bricks. The later bricks were much larger, some as much as 44 x 22 x 18 cm. When used for the casing walls the bricks were laid as one, one and a half, or more bricks lengths thick. The lowest course was laid as headers, that is with the short ends out. The courses then alternated as header courses and strecher courses, i.e. with long ends showing.

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