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Vol.15.p.155

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Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 155

Thursday, January 21, 1926 (continued)

(1) G 7000 X
Dunham went to G 7000 X at 8:20 a.m. and supervised the reopening G 7000 X. Last year the opening to the chamber was closed with a cloth lined boarding wedged in place by props against the north wall over this blocks of limestone were laid in for three meters, then a floor of wood covered with sacking with chinks filled with sacking. This top piece was found covered with dust and sand showing how necessary it was to protect the chamber below. The cloth and boarding was removed, then the stone-packing. Said Ahmed and Mohammed Tammam who have been responsible for guarding the tomb ever since it was discovered were at the bottom. The work went much faster than calculated. Dunham was there all morning and both he and I were there after the noon pause. At 2:30 Said reported the stones all out and I went down. In my presence, the wooden and sacking of the door block was removed. The elastic wires and one 1000-candle lamp were lowered and the current turned on. A close examination of the room in the powerful light of this lamp showed that all was exactly as when closed in March. No water had come into the room either from the pit or from the cracks. No fall of stone had taken place. Dunham also descended. Dows and Said had both seen the tomb last year and I had the photographs. The powerful light permitted a better view than was had before. The scattering of objects seems to me to be due to something more than mere decay. I feel sure that much had been broken before the door was walled up. This condition can be explained in two ways:
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microfilm: end page 155

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    01/21/1926
  • Mentioned on page
    Dows Dunham, American, 1890–1984
    Mohamed Tammam
    Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

Tombs and Monuments 1

People 4

Modern People

  • Dows Dunham

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1890–1984
    • Remarks Egyptologist; Curator; Assistant Curator, Egyptian Department, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Mohamed Tammam

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Guard at Giza (from Quft).

  • Said Ahmed Said [Diraz] (Reis)

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates
    • Remarks Head Reis for the Harvard-MFA expedition, 1908–1926. In his "A History of the Giza Necropolis I," George A Reisner described Said Ahmed Said as "the most gifted foreman who ever worked for the expedition." Father of Mohammed Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Head Reis 1936–1939), Mahmud Said Ahmed [Diraz] (Translator), Ahmed Said Ahmed [Diraz]. Family name, Diraz, was supplied by Said Ahmed Said's grandsons in 2006.