Deir el-Bersha
El Bersha · Deir el-Bersheh · Bersha
Early Dynastic to Late Period (2950–650 BCE; decorated peak Middle Kingdom)·Ancient Egyptian / Coptic·🇪🇬 Minya Governorate, Egypt
About
About Deir el-Bersha
Hare nome (15th Upper) necropolis opposite Amarna on east cliff, Deir el-Bersha cliff cemetery 2950–650 BCE famous for Middle Kingdom nomarch tombs with 'Bersha procession' — colossus of Djehutihotep pulled on sledge by 172 men pouring water as lubricant (oldest science illustration of friction reduction, verified 2014 Utrecht experiment) — and early Book of Two Ways coffins (S2). Tombs 17H Djehutihotep II (1840 BCE) 15 m deep; tomb BH16? early sledge still. 2013 discovery intact 10 coffins including Amenhotep? Named by Lepsius. Desert limestone crossed to Middle Egypt granite trade.
Why it mattersEarliest depiction of friction science (water on sand) and Coffin Text corridor linking Book of Two Ways to Book of Dead.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether 172-man depiction literal or ideal number
- 02Chronology of early coffin texts in B9C loop
Theories
- 01Friction reduction demonstration as engineering proof 2014 (Fall et al.)
- 02Hare nome highway graph Bolshakov
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Early dynastic; decorated Old-Middle Kingdom tombs 2400–1700 BCE; Late Period coffins; Coptic monastery
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Late Period (2950–650 BCE; decorated peak Middle Kingdom)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian / Coptic
- Builders
- Hare nome nomarchs (Djehutihotep line)
- Purpose
- Nome elite cemetery demonstrating desert-cult and coffin-text evolution
- Rediscovered
- 1820s Burton; 1890s Newberry; 1990 Willems
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Early dynastic; decorated Old-Middle Kingdom tombs 2400–1700 BCE; Late Period coffins; Coptic monastery
Initial construction
c. 1460 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
27.7267° N · 30.9022° E · 60 m · 2 mapped features
Tomb 17L10 Djehutihotep II
tombHall with 172-man colossus sledge painting
27.7270° N · 30.9030° ECoffin of Sepi (S1C)
coffinBook of Two Ways passage findspot
27.7265° N · 30.9020° E
Gallery