Global InformationList of finds in Egyptian pyramids information
List of finds in the substructures or interiors of Egyptian pyramids that have been explored and still contained notable findings in modern times. An absence of documented finds does not imply nothing was ever found.
Pyramids not listed have either not been located or explored (e.g.: due to flooding or collapse), have no substructure, were fully looted, or contained nothing of note.
| Dyn | Pyramid names | Sarcophagi / Coffins | Human remains | Canopic jars and chests | Wall Decorations | Other noteworthy finds, sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Kingdom | ||||||
| 3rd | Pyramid of Djoser | Square granite vault | Mummy parts (later burial) | Gallery: 3 false doors with faience tiles, inscribed door frames | [1][2][3] | |
| Eastern shafts and galleries | 2 alabaster sarcophagi, fragments of others | Hip bone of a young woman, set of female remains predating Djoser | Undecorated | Seal impression of Djoser's Horus name, 40,000 stone vessels (primarily Alabaster), most made before Djoser[1][4][3] | ||
| 3rd | Buried Pyramid | Alabaster sarcophagus (with side opening) | Undecorated | Bark and decomposed wood found on top of sarcophagus[5][6] | ||
| 4th | Meidum Pyramid | Pieces of wooden coffin | Undecorated | Cedar logs embedded in masonry[7][8] | ||
| 4th | Bent Pyramid | Undecorated | Wood plank still holding back blocking stone, cedar logs[7][9] | |||
| 4th | Red Pyramid | Fragments of human remains | Undecorated | [10] | ||
| 4th | Great Pyramid of Giza | Granite sarcophagus, lid missing | Undecorated | Queen's Chamber Air-Shafts: diorite ball, copper "hook", cedar plank
Relieving Chambers: Hieroglyphic graffiti - incl. Khufu's names spelled out multiple times[11][12][13] | ||
| Queen's pyramid GI-a | Recess for sarcophagus, basalt fragments | Pieces of bone | Undecorated | [14][15] | ||
| Queen's pyramid GI-b | Broken wood coffins (later burials) | 12 or 13 skulls, bones (later burials) | Undecorated | Bronze armlet, with a piece of brown stone shaped like part of a female hand[14][15] | ||
| 4th | Pyramid of Djedefre | Inscribed stone fragments, copper axe blade, worker graffiti including Djedefre's cartouche[16][17] | ||||
| Queen's pyramid | Limestone sarcophagus fragments | 2 lids possibly from canopic jars | Undecorated | Large alabaster vessel, pottery fragments, faience tiles, large Egyptian alabaster plate inscribed with the Horus name of Khufu (Djedefre's father)[18] | ||
| 4th | Pyramid of Khafre | Granite sarcophagus with lid | Pit for canopic chest | Undecorated | Bull bones found inside sarcophagus (probably later addition)[14] | |
| Subsidiary pyramid | Undecorated | Wooden shrine (nah netjer) in niche that had been ritually destroyed.[19] | ||||
| 4th | Pyramid of Menkaure | Basalt sarcophagus with palace facade;
Later burial: wooden anthropoid coffin inscribed with Menkaure's name |
Bones of a woman with pieces of clothing (later burial) | Paneled chamber: stylized false door motifs, lintel in reed-mat form | [15][20][3][21] | |
| Queen's pyramid GIII-a | Granite sarcophagus | Undecorated | Pieces of pottery[14] | |||
| Queen's pyramid GIII-b | Granite sarcophagus | Jawbone of a young woman, fragments of bones | Undecorated | Decayed wood, roof slab inscription containing cartouche of Menkaure[14] | ||
| 5th | Pyramid of Userkaf | Basalt sarcophagus fragments | Undecorated | [22] | ||
| 5th | Pyramid of Sahure | Basalt sarcophagus fragments | Undecorated | [23] | ||
| 5th | Pyramid of Khentkaus II | Granite sarcophagus fragments | Undecorated | Mummy wrappings, alabaster pottery[citation needed] | ||
| 5th | Pyramid of Neferefre | Granite sarcophagus fragments | 6 pieces of mummified remains
of a young man (incl. hand, clavicle, fibula) |
Pieces of 4
canopic jars |
Undecorated | Alabaster pottery[3] |
| 5th | Lepsius XXIV Pyramid | Granite sarcophagus fragments | Damaged mummy of a young woman | Alabaster
canopic jars |
Undecorated | Remains of burial equipment: models of alabaster vessels.
copper tools used for the ritual of the opening of the mouth ritual |
| 5th? | Double Pyramid (east) | Scanty remains of a female burial | Fragments of limestone
canopic jars |
Undecorated | Model vessels of alabaster, model chisels of copper and shards of pottery. | |
| Double Pyramid (west) | Tiny fragments of a female burial | Undecorated | Remnants of the burial equipment, a model vessel of alabaster, several corroded model vessels
and instruments of copper. | |||
| 5th | Headless Pyramid | Broken sarcophagus lid | Undecorated | [24] | ||
| 5th | Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi | Basalt sarcophagus fragments | Mummified remains of an old man | Niche for canopic chest | Undecorated | Broken pottery, faience bead on a gold filament[25][3] |
| 5th | Pyramid of Unas | Greywacke sarcophagus | Mummied remains of a human
(incl. right arm, skull and shinbone) |
Pyramid Texts, rich deorations | Wooden handles of two knives[26] | |
| 6th | Pyramid of Teti | Greywacke sarcophagus
with inscriptions on the inside |
Mummified remains of a human
(incl. arm and shoulder blade) |
Canopic jar containing
viscera |
Pyramid Texts | Club heads inscribed with the pharaoh's name[27] |
| Queen's pyramid of Iput (mastaba transformed to pyramid by Pepi I) | Cedar coffin in limestone sarcophagus | Iput's intact remains | 5 crude canopic jars | Pyramid Texts | Jewelry on mummy, model vessels of alabaster, pottery and copper, alabaster slabs inscribed with names of sacred oils, model gilded copper tools[28] | |
| 6th | Pyramid of Pepi I | Inscribed black stone sarcophagus | Mummy fragment | Granite canopic chest,
1 intact alabaster canopic jar and fragments of others, viscera |
Pyramid Texts | Sandal (of Pepi), flint knife, inscribed linen, 2 fragments of a thin gold plate (the body rested on), 2 scraps of a loincloth[29] |
| Queen's pyramid of Nebuunet | Granite sarcophagus fragments | Cylindrical wooden weight, wooden ostrich feather, inscribed alabaster tablets | ||||
| Queen's pyramid of Inenek-Inti | Greywacke sarcopagus | Pottery | ||||
| Western pyramid | Granite sarcophagus fragments | Wooden weights, ostrich feathers, copper fish hooks, fired-clay vessels | ||||
| Queen's pyramid of Pyramid of Meritites IV | Geywacke sarcophagus fragments | Queen's titulary on hallway walls | Wooden fragments inscribed with formulas of the pyramid texts | |||
| Queen's pyramid of Ankhesenpepi II | Basalt sarcophagus with inscribed titulary | Bone fragments of the arm, leg and foot of adult woman | Pyramid Texts | |||
| Queen's pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III | Sandstone Sarcophagus with Granite Lid, inscribed with name and titulary | Bone fragments | Palace facade decoration | |||
| Queen's pyramid of Behenu | Sarcophagus fragments | Inscribed and decorated | ||||
| 6th | Pyramid of Merenre | Basalt sarcophagus with lid and traces of gilding | Mummy of young man (possibly later burial) | Granite canopic chest with lid | Pyramid Texts | 2 alabaster vessels[30] |
| 6th | Pyramid of Pepi II | Greywacke sarcophagus with lid, inscribed with Pepi II's titulary | Granite canopic chest lid, niche for chest | Pyramid Texts, niche pattern, false doors topped with King's name | Fragments of alabaster and diorite vases, golden spatula[31][32] | |
| Queen's pyramid of Neith | Granite sarcophagus | Granite canopic chest | Pyramid Texts, starred ceiling | Descending passage: granite false door, burial chamber: miniature (inscribed) bronze tableware, stone vases[33][34] | ||
| Queen's pyramid of Neith | Fragments of pottery, 3 alabaster vessels[34] | |||||
| Queen's pyramid of Iput II (and Ankhesenpepi IV) | Granite sarcophagus of Queen Ankhesenpepi IV inscribed with Annals of the 6th dynasty | Pyramid Texts | ||||
| Queen's pyramid of Udjebten | Pyramid Texts | |||||
| Dyn | Pyramid names | Sarcophagi / Coffins | Human remains | Canopic jars and chests | Wall Decorations | Other noteworthy finds, sources |
| First Intermediate Period | ||||||
| 8th | Pyramid of Qakare Ibi | Granite monolith once held sarcophagus | Pyramid Texts | |||
| Middle Kingdom | ||||||
| 11th | Pyramid of Reherishefnakht | Sarcophagus inscribed with Coffin Texts | Pyramid Texts | [35] | ||
| 12th | Queen's pyramid 3 of Senusret I | Quartzite sarcophagus,
remains of gilded, wooden Coffin |
Bone fragments | Broken but complete canopic chest | Undecorated | Deteriorated wooden staff[36] |
| 12th | Pyramid of Senusret II | Granite sarcophagus | Leg bones | Undecorated | Alabaster offering table inscribed with the pharaoh's name, gold uraeus[37] | |
| 12th | Pyramid of Senusret III | Granite sarcophagus with palace facade | Undecorated | Pottery vases, broken bronze dagger with ivory handle[38] | ||
| Queen's pyramid of Nofrethenut | 2 sarcophagi, one inscribed with titulary | Undecorated | ||||
| Queen's pyramid of Itakayt | Sarcophagus | Canopic chest, two canopic jars | Undecorated | |||
| 12th | Pyramid of Amenemhat III (Dashur) | Decorated granite sarcophagus | Chambers for queens (or daughters): 6 mummies found total | Unused canopic chest for the king | Undecorated | (Substructure was collapsing, pyramid not used for the king)[39] |
| Burial chamber of Aat | Sarcophagus | Mummy of Aat | Canopic chest, 1 canopic jar | Undecorated | 2 mace heads, 7 duck-shaped alabaster cases, alabaster unguent jar, pieces of jewelry[39] | |
| Burial chamber of Chenmetneferhedjet | Sarcophagus | Mummy of Chenmetneferhedjet | Undecorated | |||
| Burial chamber of unknown queen | Undecorated | Obsidian vase with gold bands, 3 duck-shaped alabaster vessels, granite and alabaster mace heads, jewelry | ||||
| 12th | Pyramid of Amenemhat III (Hawara) | Quartzite sarcophagus | Bone fragments | 2 canopic chests | Undecorated | Alabaster offering table, duck-shaped bowls in baring the name of his Amenemhat III's Queen Neferu-ptah[40] |
| 12th | Southern Mazghuna pyramid | Granite sarcophagus | Undecorated | 3 limestone lamps, duck-shaped alabaster vessel[41] | ||
| Second Intermediate Period | ||||||
| 13th | Pyramid of Ameny Qemau | Great quartzite monolith with separate cavities for the mummy, and the canopic equipment | 4 broken calcite canopic jars inscribed with the pharaoh's name | Undecorated | [42] | |
- ^ a b Lauer, Jean-Philippe (1939). La pyramide à degrés 3 Compléments.
- ^ Lehner 1997, pp. 87–90.
- ^ a b c d e STROUHAL; VYHNÁNEK; GABALLAH; SAUNDERS; WOELFLI; BONANI; NĚMEČKOVÁ (2001). Identification of royal skeletal remains from Egyptian pyramids. S2CID 164018005.
- ^ Lehner (1997), pp. 87–90
- ^ Goneim, M. Zakaria (1956). The buried pyramid.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 94.
- ^ a b Petrie, Flinders (1892). Medum.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 98.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 103.
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 105
- ^ Perring, John Shae (1839). The pyramids of Gizeh: from actual survey and admeasurement (Band 1): The great pyramid. doi:10.11588/DIGLIT.3557.
- ^ "Dixon Artefacts".
- ^ "Missing 5,000-year-old piece of Great Pyramid puzzle discovered in cigar box in Aberdeen".
- ^ a b c d e Perring, John Shae (1840). The pyramids of Gizeh: from actual survey and admeasurement (Band 2): The second and third pyramids. doi:10.11588/DIGLIT.3558.
- ^ a b c Vyse (1840), pp. 77–95
- ^ Grimal, Nicolas (1997). "Travaux de l'Institut françaisd'archéologie orientaleen 1996 -1997". Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale. 97: 313–429.
- ^ Grimal, Nicolas (1999). "Travaux de l'Institut françaisd'archéologie orientaleen 1998 -1999". Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale. 99: 447–566.
- ^ "Pyramid Discovered at Abu Rowash".
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 126.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 135-136.
- ^ "Wood coffin found in the Pyramid of Menkaure".
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 140.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 142.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 165.
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 153
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 154-155
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 156-157
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 157
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 158
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 160
- ^ Maspero (1890). "La pyramide du roi Pépi II". Recueil de travaux relatifs à la philologie et à l'archéologie égyptiennes et assyriennes: Pour servir de bulletin à la Mission Française du Caire: 53–95.
- ^ Lehner (1997), p. 162
- ^ "CAMPAGNE 2016".
- ^ a b Lehner (1997), p. 163
- ^ "La Pyramide de Rêhérychefnakht". Archived from the original on 6 June 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 173.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 175.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 177.
- ^ a b Lehner 1997, p. 180.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 182.
- ^ Lehner 1997, p. 184.
- ^ Swelin, Nabil; Dodson, Aidan (1998). "On the Pyramid of Ameny-Qemau and its Canopic Equipment" (PDF). Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Abteilung Kairo. 54: 319–334, Plates 54 & 55.