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A project of the American Research Center in Egypt
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View of Wadis A through D
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Entryway A

See entire tomb

A shallow, unprotected and unplastered shaft that narrows towards the bottom. There is an intermediate ledge on the southern wall of the shaft.

Condition

Cutting finished
Excavated
Undecorated

About

About

Wadi C-3 is located on the southeastern side of Wadi C on a slope that forms the wadi’s eastern border. It consists of a shallow shaft (A) that narrows downwards. The owner is unknown.

The tomb was first noted by Howard Carter during his survey of the Western Wadis in 1916-1917. He observed that the tomb was open and had been plundered. Close to the shaft entrance, Carter discovered a very shallow mimic burial that contained rush-matting holding clay Osiride figures wrapped in linen and lying upon a bed stuffed with barley. The current location of these figures is unknown. 

Elizabeth Thomas surveyed Wadi C-3 in 1959-60, but could not enter the shaft. The Theban Mapping Project surveyed the tomb in 1982, followed by the joint mission of the New Kingdom Research Foundation and the Cambridge Expedition to the Valley of the Kings in 2013-2014. It has been dated to the 18th Dynasty due to its close proximity to the cliff tomb ascribed to Neferure (Wadi C-1). 

Noteworthy features:

Wadi C-3 is an 18th Dynasty shaft tomb located in close proximity to the cliff tomb ascribed to Neferure (Wadi C-1). 

Site History

The tomb was constructed in the 18th Dynasty and plundered at a later stage.

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
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 open and is in danger of being filled by debris brought down the Wadi during floods.

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.