Beit Khallaf (Arabic: بيت خلاف ) is a small rural village located 10 kilometres west of Girga in Upper Egypt. Beit Khallaf is part of the area known as the Hajer line, composed of three other villages: Beit Allam, Beit Khuraybi, and Beit Dawud Sahl. The area has several mastabas and burial sites. It is governed by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiques as an Ancient Archeological site. As of 2006, the total population of the village is 10,895 people.
Location of Beit Khallaf Village
Beit Khallaf is a small village located 10 kilometres west of Girga in Middle Egypt, Sohag Governorate. Outside the village are five Third Dynasty mud-brick mastaba tombs, which were investigated by archaeologist John Garstang in 1900-1901.
Overview
During the 1900-1901 excavation season in Egypt, John Garstang examined sites north of Abydos for the Egyptian Research Account. This covered the land between the villages of Alawniyeh and Bet Khallaf (Bayt Khallāf), including the modern settlements of El Mahasna (Al Maḩāsinah); Bet Allam; Maslahet Harum; Bet; and Ilg. The expedition camp was based near the walled village of Maslahet-Harun, south of El Mahasna. Between the villages of Alawniyeh and Bet Allam, they discovered traces of a prehistoric cemetery (site L). Notably, it had almost been thoroughly plundered. Between Maslahet Harum and El Mahasna, they excavated the site of a prehistoric settlement (site M S) and a necropolis dating from the 4th-11th Dynasty (site M). They also examined a nearby site (site N) containing burials dating from the same period.
By the end of January 1901, it was decided to investigate large brick structures in the desert near the village of Bet Khallaf (site K). Garstang discovered these to be the site of several mastaba tombs dating from the 3rd Dynasty.
Based upon a seal impression found in tomb K1 inscribed with the name of king Neter-khet (Netjerkhet or Djoser), Garstang believed the tomb was the burial place of the king. Though he is more usually thought to have been buried in the step pyramid in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt. Still, it is generally believed that they were more likely to be private tombs of the same period.
Another inscription discovered in tomb K2 led Garstang to assume that it was the tomb of Hen-nekht (Sa-nekht), thought to be the predecessor of Nejterkhet. Garstang also found smaller tombs at the site, which he believed to be the tombs of servants of Netjerkhet.
The largest tomb, K1, rises 8 metres above the desert and covers an area of over 3800 square meters. A two-metre thick outer wall holds the filling with sand and stone. Huge brickwork is made around pits and corners. The burial shaft lies 25 metres below the surface at the bottom of a stairway blocked by six massive stones. The ceiling above the stairway was constructed of descending barrel vaults supported by mud-brick arches. These are thought to be the oldest known vaults in Egypt. Nearly 800 cylindrical alabaster vases were removed from the stairway, including some with mud caps sealed with the name ‘Neter-Khet’ (Netjerikhet). The burial chamber comprised 18 chambers leading out from a central passage. Unfortunately, the burial was disturbed by plunderers who had dug a small hole underneath the mastaba. As a result, the bones were scattered, and offering vessels were
‘strewn about in confusion. The second-largest tomb, K2, was similar to K1. It contained human remains and a small fragment inscribed with ‘Hen-nekht’ or ‘sa-nekht’ (Sanakht).