by Jessica Izak
Deir el-Bersha, named after the nearby modern village, is a necropolis and quarry site located on the east bank of the Nile, within the remote cliffs at the entrance of the Wadi Deir el-Nakhla. This site is notable for its 39 rock-cut tombs, which are stylistically similar to the later tombs at Beni Hasan, and for its extensive limestone quarry galleries. Unfortunately, the tombs have suffered significant damage due to quarrying activities, earlier earthquakes, and recent vandalism, leaving them in a poor state of preservation.
The most significant tombs at Deir el-Bersha belong to the governors of Hermopolis from Dynasties XI and XII, situated across the river. These tombs attracted many early travelers and were excavated by Percy Newberry for the Egypt Exploration Fund between 1891 and 1893, by Georges Daressy in 1897, and by Ahmed Kamal starting in 1900. George Reisner began further excavations in 1915 for the Boston-Harvard Expedition. Since 1988, a team from KU Leuven has been conducting excavations at Deir el-Bersha.
One of the most important tombs at El-Bersha from the Middle Kingdom is that of Djehutihotep, who was the mayor, overseer of the priests, and nomarch of the Hermopolite Nome during the 12th Dynasty. He served under the kings Amenemhat II, Senusret II, and Senusret III. The tomb is particularly famous for its depiction of the transport of a colossal statue over 6 meters tall. Additionally, there are numerous scenes of daily life, showing farmers and craftsmen at work.
Bibliography:
- P. E. Newberry, El Bersheh 1. The tomb of Tehuti-Hetep, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt 3 (London 1895)
- P. E. Newberry – F. Ll. Griffith (Hrsg.), El Bersheh 2, Memoir / Archaeological Survey of Egypt 4 (London 1895)
- H. Willems, Deir el-Bersha, in: R. S. Bagnali – K. Brodersen – C. B. Champion – A. Erskine – S. R. Huebner (Hrsg.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History [Online]
- H. Willems, Les nécropoles au Moyen Empire. Des tombes pour l’élite, Dossiers d’Archéologie hors-série 27, 2014, 44–51