Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

DURING 19 CENTURY : EGYPT GG1
They were close by two large blocks of limestone, and the
coffins, as well as the chambers in which sepulchral offerings
were offered, had remained intact, and were found in the
same condition in which they were the day when the two
princesses were buried in them. Here were also found a
number of valuable ornaments, veritable masterpieces of the
goldsmith's art, among which a dagger with inlaid hilt and
two fillets of gold inlaid with stones and enamels, made in
the shape of wreaths, excelled all others in beauty and fineness
of workmanship.
As it is very probable that the second large pyramid at
Dahshur, which is the largest of all pyramids next to those
of Gize, was built by the predecessor of Cheops, Pharaoh
Snofru, there only remains to be determined the age and
the builder's name of the so-called " Blunted Pyramid,"
which it is hoped will soon be ascertained.
The two stone pyramids lying to the south of Dahshur
at Lisht have for centuries been used as stone quarries, so
that they look more like two hills rising from the edge of
the desert than the works of man. These have also been
recently examined, first by Maspero in 1883-86 and later
by Gautier and Jecquier in 1894-95. Through their excavations
it
was discovered that they likewise belong to the
period of the Middle Empire, and that the southern one is
the tomb of Usertesen I., while the northern in all probability
is that of Amenemhat I., the founder of the Twelfth
Dynasty. Up to the present it has been found impossible
to enter the sepulchral chambers, because through infiltration
the chambers have been completely filled with water.
Nevertheless Gautier and Jecquier were able to lay open
many tombs and other monuments near the southern pyramid,
above all a kind of " hall," in which were deposited
for some unexplained reason ten life-size sitting figures of
Usertesen I. marvellously wrought in limestone.
Usually the pyramid field in the south ends with the