Mazghuna North Pyramid — Amenemhat IV Complex
Northern Mazghuna Pyramid · Pyramid of Amenemhat IV (Mazghuna)
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1800 BCE (Amenemhat IV)·Ancient Egyptian (Middle Kingdom, Amenemhat IV)·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Egypt
About
About Mazghuna North Pyramid — Amenemhat IV Complex
Northern of two Mazghuna mudbrick pyramids 4 km south of Dahshur: 50 m base, now 20 m vegetated mound. Excavated by Ernest Mackay 1910-11. Mudbrick superstructure with limestone casing foundations, outer undulating (wavy) enclosure wall unique in Egypt. Substructure: quartzite portcullis, three sliding portcullises, blank quartzite sarcophagus. Unfinished — sarcophagus never inscribed, descending corridor blocked. Indicates shortened reign of Amenemhat IV (9 years).
Why it mattersKey Ancient Egyptian (Middle Kingdom, Amenemhat IV) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why unfinished at burial chamber stage — short reign or political transition to Sobekneferu
- 02Purpose of wavy enclosure wall unique to Mazghuna
Theories
- 01Amenemhat IV died prematurely, son not prepared to complete
- 02Experimental Middle Kingdom architecture abandoned after 12th Dynasty
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.1800 BCE (Amenemhat IV, 12th Dynasty)
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1800 BCE (Amenemhat IV)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Middle Kingdom, Amenemhat IV)
- Purpose
- Mudbrick pyramid of Amenemhat IV at Mazghuna north mound, unfinished hypogeum with remarkable wavy enclosure walls
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1800 BCE (Amenemhat IV)
Construction — mudbrick core and wavy wall
c.1795 BCE
Halt — portcullises slid but no burial
1910
Mackay excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
29.7650° N · 31.2200° E · 50 m · 2 mapped features
Mudbrick pyramid mound with wavy wall
structureVegetated mudbrick mound with trace wavy enclosure wall and limestone casing footing trench
29.7650° N · 31.2200° EQuartzite portcullis and unfinished burial chamber
chamberSubterranean descending corridor with three quartzite portcullises and blank quartzite sarcophagus (no lid inscription)
29.7649° N · 31.2201° E
Gallery