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A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
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View of cliff at Wadi A
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Entryway A

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A deep shaft cut into a crevice of the terrace in the cliffs leads down to the tomb.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Chamber B

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A large undecorated chamber that lies on axis with the tomb's shaft. This chamber is almost double the size of chamber C and its eastern side is filled with debris.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Gate C

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This gate is cut into the southern wall of chamber B and is rough and undecorated.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

Chamber C

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This chamber lies to the south of chamber B and is unplastered and undecorated.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

About

About

Wadi A-4 is located at the base of the cliff at the end of a tributary branch of Wadi Jabbanat Al-Qurud called Wadi Sikkat Taqat Zayid (Howard Carter’s Wadi A). It is cut into a crevice of the terrace south of shaft tomb Wadi A-3 and Baraize’s cliff tomb (Wadi A-2). It consists of a shaft entrance (A) that leads into two undecorated, consecutive chambers (B and C). Chamber B is almost double the size of Chamber C and its eastern side is filled with debris. The tomb owner is unknown.

The tomb was first noted by Howard Carter during his survey of the Western Wadis in 1916-1917 and he states that the tomb was probably ‘open since early times’. Elizabeth Thomas surveyed and mapped the tomb in 1959-1960. She notes that the lack of objects and rough state of the tomb probably indicates that it was unfinished. The tomb was surveyed by the Theban Mapping Project in 1982, but could not be fully mapped due to the debris inside. The last survey was conducted in 2013-2014 by the joint mission of the New Kingdom Research Foundation (NKRF) and The Cambridge Expedition to the Valley of the Kings. Piers Litherland, director of the mission, notes that the tomb has only ever been partially cleared and would benefit from further scrutiny. Due to its close proximity to Hatshepsut’s cliff tomb (Wadi A-1) and Baraize’s cliff tomb (Wadi A-2), Wadi A-4 has been dated to the 18th Dynasty

Noteworthy features:

Wadi A-4 is a double chambered 18th Dynasty shaft tomb located at the base of the cliffs in Wadi A. It has never been fully excavated.

Site History

The tomb was constructed in the 18th Dynasty and it is unclear whether it was abandoned or emptied at a later date.

Dating

This site was used during the following period(s):

New Kingdom
Dynasty 18

Exploration

1916-1917: Survey and Documentation
Carter, Howard
1959-1960: Survey and Documentation
Thomas, Elizabeth
1982: Mapping/planning
Theban Mapping Project
1988: Survey and Documentation
Metropolitan Museum of Art
2013-2014: Survey and Documentation
New Kingdom Research Foundation (NKRF) and The Cambridge Expedition to the Valley of the Kings

Conservation

Site Condition

The tomb is currently filled with debris and would benefit from further scrutiny. It position at the base of the cliff in Wadi A, however, means that it is at risk of being reburied by debris falling from the cliff or being carried in by flooding.

Articles

Geography and Geology of the Valley of the Queens and Western Wadis

The Valley of the Queens and the Western Wadis are made up of numerous valleys spread out over a vast space of desert, each containing tombs for the New Kingdom queens and other royal family members. The poor quality rock has led to damage in several tombs after suffering from earthquakes and floods.

Bibliography

Carter, Howard. A Tomb prepared from Queen Hatshepsut and other Recent Discoveries at Thebes. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 4 no. 2/3 (1917): 107-118.

Lilyquist, Christine with contributions by James E. Hoch and A.J. PedenThe Tomb of Three Foreign Wives of Tuthmosis III. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2003.

Litherland, PiersThe western wadis of the Theban necropolis: a re-examination of the western wadis of the Theban necropolis by the joint-mission of the Cambridge Expedition to the Valley of the Kings and the New Kingdom Research Foundation, 2013-2014. London: New Kingdom Research Foundation, 2014.