Abusir. The Pyramid of Neferefra.

- ABUSIR -
ابو صير

A detailed photo-report about ancient Egyptian megalithic complexes, located in Abusir, was published last year in our website in the report:"Egypt. December 2012."

This time, we shall acquaint our reader with the Pyramid of Neferefra.

According to the researches of the Egyptologists, King Neferefra began the building of his funerary complex in the South-West from the Pyramid of Neferirkare in Abusir. Because of the sudden death of Neferefra, the construction works of his complex were stopped. As a result, only a square basement structure (about 75 × 75 meters) has survived. The heigh of the Pyramid, towering above the desert level - was only 7 meters high. Other constructions of the funeral complex of Neferefra were completed during the reign of his brother - Nyuserre Ini.

During the period 1981-1982, Czech expedition discovered are hundreds of papyrus scrolls and fragments, alike those, that belonged to the period of Neferirkare reign. Then, during 1984-1985, there were found some statues of the king, whose face was not known before. Also there were found the remains of wrapping material and bones of the poorly preserved mummy, which is identified as Neferefra.

Below is the Neferefra Pyramid before the time of first excavation. Year 1970.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The present view on the Pyramid:

As it seen from the photos, the core of the Pyramid is located in the excavated pit below the Abusir Plateau. The interior walls of the Pyramid rooms are strengthened with the limestone blocks of different size and quality. This fact differs the Pyramid of Neferefra from other Pyramids of Abusir, the interiors of which are digged in rocky geological layers.

In the case of the Pyramid of Neferefra we clearly see the gradual filling of the excavated pit with masonry blocks until the desired borders of the Burial Chamber, Horizontal and Descending Passage. This space was filled with the limestone blocks, until reaching the designed borders of the Burial Chamber, Horizontal and Descending Passage of the Pyramid. Such building plan could be chosen by the ancient builders, because of the only one reason - soft bedrock of this geological area.

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