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© Stéphane Compoint
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Before determining the exact location of the excavations, Vassil Dobrev studies ancient maps of the South Saqqara site at the French Archeological Institute (IFAO), specifically that of R. Lepsius from 1842 and that of J de Morgan from (1897). Starting from the fact that pharaohs built their pyramids on an axis with that of their predecessor, at a height of 45 meters above sea level and in chronological order from North to South, Vassil is looking for a site in the enormous necropolis of the ancient capital of Memphis that would fit these criteria. With the help of these maps, topographic data and a strong sense of intuition, the Egyptologist noticed an unusually large open space between the pyramids of Teti, the predecessor of Userkare, and that of Pepi I, his sucessor. Vassil takes note: it is the plateau of Tabbet al-Guesh. From left to right, the pyramids of Teti, Userkare’s precedessor, the Step Pyramid of Djoser, of Ounas, the site of Tabbet al-Guesh (in white), the pyramid of Pepi I, successor to Userkare, and the pyramids of Merene and Djedkare.
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