A Quiet and Desolate Plateau, Once Bustling with Life

The New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Memphis and its Necropolis,' reveals a dynamic burial landscape that once thrived with activity. This study presents the first comprehensive monographic treatment of the site, located 15 km south of present-day Cairo, focusing on its significance during the New Kingdom period (c.1539-1078 BCE). The research adheres to updated chronological frameworks, such as those proposed by Gautschy (2014) and Van der Perre (2014), which challenge outdated views on the reigns of Horemheb, Seti I, and the succession after Akhenaten. By analyzing toponyms and archaeological evidence, the study sheds light on the site's historical context and its role in the political transitions of the era, including the possible regency of Nefertiti and the influence of officials like Horemheb and Maya.

Staring, N. (2022). A Quiet and Desolate Plateau, Once Bustling with Life. The Saqqara Necropolis through the New Kingdom, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004467149_002