Headless Pyramid
Lepsius XXIX · Steinpyramide XXIX · Pyramid of Menkauhor? · Pyramid of Merikare?
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, ~2422 BCE (or First Intermediate 10th Dynasty)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 North Saqqara (east of Teti pyramid, near Bubasteum), Egypt
About
About Headless Pyramid
Unidentified late Old Kingdom/First Intermediate Period pyramid at Saqqara known as Headless Pyramid (Lepsius XXIX, 1843). Only base and rubble mound remain (no head/peak). Located 120 m east of Teti pyramid, south of Unas causeway. 5 m (100 cubits), estimated 30 m high, mudbrick core with limestone casing robbed. Substructure includes descending corridor and burial chamber with basalt fragments, but no pyramid texts found (Gaston Maspero 1881 searched, found none).
Excavated 2008 by Zahi Hawass who attributed to obscure 5th Dynasty king Menkauhor (ruled 8 years, 2422 BCE) based on 2008 finds of 8-year reign evidence, but Merikare (10th Dynasty) also candidate. Basalt sarcophagus lid fragment inscribed for Menkauhor supports.
Why it mattersOnly pyramid potentially bridging Old Kingdom to First Intermediate Period; evidence for ephemeral kings maintaining pyramid tradition despite fiscal decline.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Which king — 8-year Menkauhor vs nomarch Merikare — and why no Pyramid Texts if 5th Dynasty?
Theories
- 01Economic decline model — reduced scale and mudbrick core reflect shrinking resources post-Djedkare
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2422 BCE, 5th Dynasty (Menkauhor) or c.2050 BCE (Merikare)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, ~2422 BCE (or First Intermediate 10th Dynasty)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (Menkauhor or Merikare workshop)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb for ephemeral king with limited resources, built near ancestral Teti/Unas field
- Abandoned
- c.2400 BCE or 2050 BCE unfinished cult after short reign
- Rediscovered
- 1842 Lepsius catalogues XXIX as headless; 1881 Maspero probes; 1930 Cecil Firth misidentifies as Merikare; 2008 Hawass re-excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2422 BCE
Construction of mudbrick core with fine limestone casing
1843
Lepsius numbers XXIX, describes base only — hence 'Headless'
1881
Maspero enters chambers seeking Pyramid Texts, finds none
2008
Hawass excavations find Menkauhor cartouche fragment and basalt lid
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8715° N · 31.2212° E · 52 m · 3 mapped features
Pyramid base and core
pyramid52.5 m base mudbrick core with robbed casing trench, 6 m high rubble mound
29.8715° N · 31.2212° ESubterranean corridor and chamber
corridorNorth-descending corridor ~20 m to burial chamber with basalt lid fragments
29.8717° N · 31.2210° EMenkauhor cartouche deposit
depositArea 30 m south where inscribed limestone and basalt fragment with Menkauhor cartouche found
29.8713° N · 31.2214° E