TOMB OF SENEFERU

Southland Times, Issue 19502, 17 March 1925, Page 7

TOMB OF SENEFERU

DISCOVERED BY AUSTRALIAN. A MAGNIFICENT SARCOPHAGUS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright) (Reuter’s Telegrams.) CAIRO, March 12. Allan Rowe, an Australian who went to Egypt some years ago in connection with research work, was the fortunate discoverer of the supposed tomb of King Seneferu, made during excavations by Reisner’s American Archaeological Mission. Mirrors placed at the bottom of the 90-foot shaft, reflecting the sun’s rays into the tomb, revealed an almost transparent alabaster coffin, many articles of furniture, and ornaments. Crowds of tourists who flocked to the scene were confronted with barbed wire entanglements, indicating the excavators’ determination to work undisturbed. AFTER FIVE THOUSAND YEARS. TOMBS OF THE FOURTH DYNASTY. CAIRO, March 13. A communique giving further details of the tomb discovery, says that when the top shaft was cleared it was found that huge pieces of native rock had been used to make the surface in the vicinity appear to be untouched. Eight metres down a small recess contained a sacrifice consisting of a bull’s head and feet wrapped in a reed mat.

The ceiling of the burial chamber was discovered 26 metres down. The shaft w r as sealed with blocks. When these were removed there was seen for the first time in the history of excavation a magnificent untouched tomb of the fourth dynasty, 5000 years old. It is evidently the burial place of some connection of Seneferu, but the identity of the deceased is not yet determined.

A communique describes the magnificent untouched sarcophagus, upon the lid of which golden sheaths support a gold canopy decorated with hieroglyphics of Seneferu’s cartouche. It is impossible to ascertain deceased’s identity without further examination.