El-Hawawish
Hawawish · Akhmim Necropolis
Old Kingdom to Middle Kingdom (2700–1800 BCE; peak 2300–2100 BCE)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Sohag Governorate, Egypt
About
About El-Hawawish
El-Hawawish is the Old–Middle Kingdom cliff necropolis of Akhmim (Panopolis, 9th nome) on eastern desert edge, 800+ rock-cut tombs 3000–1800 BCE on 1.5 km wadi terrace. Painted chapels of nomarchs and officials (Tjetji, Kahep) display Akhmim style with desert palette and unique biographical texts (Sohag stela). McFAR? Australian Expedition (Kanawati 1980–92) recorded 30 decorated tombs. Cemetery documents 9th nome as Old Kingdom independency and Akhmim linen god Mut–Min cult.
Why it mattersLargest Upper Egyptian Old Kingdom necropolis; Kanawati corpus anchors Old Kingdom art chronology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 016th Dyn nomarch autonomy extent
- 02Min–Panopolis cult architecture
Theories
- 01Akhmim art province model (Kanawati)
- 02Desert wadi cemetery vs valley field (Bard)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- 3rd Dynasty mastaba-niche beginnings; 6th–11th Dynasty rock tombs
- Period
- Old Kingdom to Middle Kingdom (2700–1800 BCE; peak 2300–2100 BCE)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- 9th nome elite (Akhmim nomarchs)
- Purpose
- 9th nome elite cliff cemetery and Min cult terrace
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
2700 BCE
3rd Dynasty shaft tombs
2300 BCE
Kahep chapel
2100 BCE
Tjetji biographical stela
1980–92
Kanawati Australian excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
26.6020° N · 31.7120° E · 110 m · 2 mapped features
Tomb of Kahep (H24)
tombOld Kingdom painted chapel with biographic text
26.6030° N · 31.7130° EWadi Terrace Cemetery
necropolis1.5 km cliff with 800+ shaft tombs
26.6010° N · 31.7110° E
Gallery