Room and corridors beneath the base of the black pyramid

Room and corridors beneath the base of the black pyramid

The Black pyramid also known as the Pyramid of Amenemhat III is located east of the curved pyramid of Sneferu. Amenemhet's predecessor Senvosret III built his pyramid complex northeast of the Red Pyramid of Sneferu. These two massive brick core pyramids are often referred to as the North and South Brick Pyramids of Dahshur. The Black Pyramid was the first pyramid to house both a deceased pharaoh and his queen. One of only five surviving pyramids of the original eleven pyramids at Dahshur in Egypt it was originally called Amenemhet is Mighty. The pyramid received its name because of its dilapidated and gloomy appearance as a pile of rubble. The collapsed mudbrick mound above is the only remnant of the pyramid's superstructure. Built by King Amenemhet III of the 12th Dynasty.

It lasted two seasons avoiding the summer heat and ended in April 1895. It was not limited to the Black Pyramid but also encompassed all three Middle Kingdom pyramid groups. Therefore details of the three pyramid groups are often limited. Under the supervision of Jacques de Morgan archaeologists and researchers discovered remnants of pyramid temples some of which contained the oval of Amenemhet III. He also discovered 10 tombs to the north of which only two were used. The first belonged to King Hor of the 13th Dynasty. Due to the complexity of the base structure details about the numerous rooms and corridors were scarcely written and there were no detailed drawings. After excavations at the site were completed archaeologists and researchers began to gain a clearer picture of the labyrinth of rooms and corridors beneath the Black Pyramid.

The Black Pyramid has extensive corridors and underground chambers. All the chambers and corridors lead to the burial chambers of the pharaohs. The Pharaoh is believed to have been buried in the Hawara pyramid with an unidentified queen residing in the southern section known as the Southern Tomb. These chambers were built to house the dead. Evidence of intrusive burials may be found in each entrance staircase. The Black Pyramid's complex layout with chambers on multiple levels is accessible by several staircases. A small chamber not shown on the plan lies beneath a corridor. The pyramid has two entrances. The archaeological team used the approximate location of the plan to help locate the eastern entrance. Initially cutting through the ruins was too far from the southern entrance and excavating approximately 7 meters northward to find the entrance revealed a portion of the pyramid's foundation trench.

Foundation Trench In the northeast corner of the pyramid archaeologist and researcher Jacques de Morgan discovered debris from below reaching a brick wall hidden deep underground. It appears to be adjacent to a moat that once enclosed a massive block of brick. The wall is two bricks wide and appears to have been reinforced at the corners with brick pillars. The floor between the wall and the pyramid is perfectly smooth and precisely cut. This trench is approximately 8 meters wide which appears excessive compared to the original pyramid. These foundation trenches are quite common in Middle Kingdom pyramids and can vary in width and depth Some are lined with bricks while others are not. There is no fixed designation.

A pair of statues of King Amenemhet III, cast with the spirit of the Nile (left), and fragments of another statue of the same type (right)

Due to the theft of the stones the pyramid has a foundation trenches approximately 5 meters wide and 1 meter deep. The foundation blocks are placed on a clean sandy surface with retaining walls of the trenches plastered with mud and lime. 12 Further excavation is needed to better understand the foundation trenches. Within these trenches is a base embedded in the rock containing the pyramid's brick core. None of the foundation trenches are particularly well preserved although the quality of the excavated soil may have played a role. The general idea is that the trenches consisted of fine limestone supporting the pyramid's structure.