Excavations in the North Tomb Group

This group of tombs occupies the northwestern edge of the settlement. The ground plans of up to 20 monumental tombs are known, including the largest and most elborate, North Tombs 1 and 2. This series of mud-brick mausolea are aligned roughly in a single row which extends towards the northernmost area of the site. Other tombs are traceable nearby to the west and south and probably belong to a second parallel group, but these are only preserved to the lower courses of their walls.

Human remains in situ within a tomb

• North Tomb 1
• The largest of all the tombs in this area. It is a monumental structure in which the central chamber was decorated with pharaonic-style paintings.
• North Tomb 2
• The second of the monumental tombs in this northern group. Architecturally it is a similar, yet simplified version of North Tomb 1, which is located approximately 25m away.
• Tombs 5, 6, 7 and 16
• These mausolea are constructed primarily of mud-brick and continue the alignment of tombs headed northeast from North Tomb 2.
• North Stone Tomb
• A single, stone-built chamber within a mud-brick complex that is situated slightly apart from the other brick mausolea.