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Ancient Egyptians - Pit Graves |
Pit Graves
Ancient Egyptian Pit Grave Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet Fact 1 on Pit Graves: The earliest form of ancient Egyptian burial was the pit grave. All ancient Egyptians, both the rich and the poor, were buried in shallow pit graves that were were situated in the desert. Fact 2 on Pit Graves: The earliest type of grave housed the corpse and gradually small mementos of the deceased were buried with them, such as the weapons or the tools that were used by the deceased. Fact 3 on Pit Graves: The 'mementoes' took on a different status over time and were viewed as sacrificial offerings to the gods. The more valuable the offering, the happier the gods, affording a fast entry into the Afterlife. Additional offerings were also left by the side of the grave. Fact 4 on Pit Graves: A shallow rectangular grave, usually with rounded corners, was prepared according the length of the body and was situated on the edge of a desert area. The grave was positioned with reference to the River Nile, so that the body faced the west. Fact 5 on Pit Graves: The River Nile was believed to be the bridge to the entry of the afterlife. East was a place of beginnings while the west was considered the place of death. Fact 6 on Pit Graves: The body was cleaned and prepared for burial wrapped in clothes or a shroud. Sometimes unguents and resins were applied to help preserve the body. Fact 7 on Pit Graves: The corpse was placed directly into the grave, without a coffin, and carefully positioned in a sitting and then a 'foetal' position, on their left sides, facing towards the perceived entry place to the afterlife. Fact 8 on Pit Graves: The sands of the desert were hot, the body fluids drained away and the corpse underwent a natural form of mummification which reduced decay of the body. Fact 9 on Pit Graves: The grave was initially covered with hides or reed mats and covered with a mound of rough stones as a memorial or grave marker. Fact 10 on Pit Graves: The grave markers became more sophisticated and stelaes were added identifying the deceased. Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet Pit Graves Pit Graves Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet Fact 11 on Pit Graves: The first burial customs changed when bodies were placed in wooden or clay coffins. Fact 12 on Pit Graves: The coffins were then protected even further by the addition of sarcophagi (outer coffins). Fact 13 on Pit Graves: The graves themselves also changed and were lined with wood or, more often given a lining consisting of mud bricks. A wooden roof was also added to the top of the grave before the stones were added. Fact 14 on Pit Graves: These changes, designed to protect the body of the corpse, prevented contact between the hot sand and the body. This altered the natural preservation processes and embalming processes and the process of mummification was devised to preserve the body. Fact 15 on Pit Graves: The ancient Egyptians were using Mudbricks from at least the 1st Dynasty during the time period known in ancient Egyptian history as the Early Dynastic Period c3100 - 2770 B.C. The mudbricks were used to create Mastaba tombs and these would replace the pit graves for royalty and the wealthy. Fact 16 on Pit Graves: In this way the simple pit graves evolved into a far more impressive type of tomb, a single storey structure called a mastaba.
Traditional mastaba Fact 17 on Pit Graves: The first pyramid was Djoser's Step Pyramid, and began as a traditional, flat-roofed Mastaba Tomb which was enhanced by the addition of six additional steps or tiers.
King Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet |
