Granite tomb of the Senusret II pyramid

Granite tomb of 

the Senusret II pyramid

Built for Pharaoh Senusret II during the Twelfth Dynasty this complex features wide open corridors but it is unclear whether they connect to the mortuary temple or the surrounding area The completed pyramid was encased in fine Tura limestone set in grooves cut into the underlying rock to prevent collapse The pyramid of Senusret II was built around and on yellow limestone The pyramid had a small mortuary temple to the east but it was completely destroyed during the reign of Ramses II making it impossible to rebuild. The burial chamber approximately one-fifth of the way through the corridor is a second door on the southern wall with another corridor winding around the burial chamber To the west a passage leads to the burial chamber the final section of which is lined with red granite rather than limestone

Side Passage of Senusret II’s pyramid / Senusret II sarcophagus

The upper structure is surrounded by a sandy trench filled with a slope with a short limestone wall surrounding it decorated with deep niches Two apparent foundation sites have also been found one in the southeastern corner of the temple and the other on the east-west axis. Inside pottery remains have been placed in the tomb's sand Numerous reliefs from the temple have been discovered and a piece of inscribed gray granite has been found Brunton speculates that it may have originated from an altar in the original temple The front chamber of the burial chamber was cut into the rock of the outcrop and faced with blocks of fine white limestone Some broken pottery and a single alabaster shard were also found apparently made by craftsmen from the Twelfth Dynasty

The pharaoh participated in the afterlife. Sensuret II a black granite pyramid remains only in its remains and several pieces of red granite with green painted hieroglyphics were also found They were taken from the temple's western entrance The burial chamber has walls facing fine white limestone adjacent to two adjacent chambers a roofed niche on the east and an offering chamber to the northeast leading to a wide pit discovered south of the pyramid's southeast side A second larger pit found south of the princess's tomb has walls partially made of fine white limestone and partially bare stone with niches for carved statues on the western wall Remains found in the burial chamber include fragments of a wooden sarcophagus and green feldspar scarabs as well as a figure of the king inscribed with his name and fragments of painted stone on the wall depicting offerings