Headless Pyramid — Saqqara North (Lepsius XXIX)
Lepsius XXIX — Headless Pyramid North · Pyramid of Menkauhor? — Saqqara · Pyramid of Merikare? — Saqqara · Steinpyramide XXIX North
Old Kingdom, late Fifth Dynasty (or First Intermediate Period 10th Dynasty, if Merikare)·Ancient Egyptian (Old Kingdom — 5th Dynasty / Herakleopolitan 10th Dynasty)·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Saqqara plateau (east of Teti pyramid), Egypt
About
About Headless Pyramid — Saqqara North (Lepsius XXIX)
The 'Headless Pyramid' (Lepsius XXIX / Steinkepyramide XXIX) lies 120 m east of the Pyramid of Teti at Saqqara, catalogued by Lepsius 1843 as headless because no casing survives. Only 5 m of rubble core remains. Substructure: descending corridor, portcullis, antechamber and burial chamber with fragments of basalt sarcophagus. Attribution is the most disputed in Saqqara — Hawass 2008 re-excavation argued for Menkauhor (5th Dynasty, 8-year reign, only known pyramid), while older literature assigns to Herakleopolitan king Merikare (≈2070 BCE). Surrounding cemetery includes 5th Dynasty mastabas and Saite shaft tombs cut into fill.
Why it mattersIf Menkauhor, the last unlocated 5th Dynasty pyramid completing the royal sequence; if Merikare, the only First Intermediate Period pyramid proving Herakleopolitan kingship claims. Either way crucial to Old Kingdom chronology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Owner — Menkauhor Kaiu (5th) vs Merikare (10th) — no Pyramid Texts or name in situ
- 02Original height and temple plan — destroyed by Saite shaft tombs
Theories
- 01Menkauhor hypothesis — fits 5th Dynasty location east of Teti and size comparable to Unas (Hawass 2008)
- 02Merikare hypothesis — size small for 5th but fits scarce Herakleopolitan resources; Firth stelae evidence (Firth-C Gunn)
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.2420–2380 BCE (5th Dynasty Menkauhor Kaiu) or c.2070 BCE (10th Dynasty Merikare) — debated, most follow Menkauhor
- Period
- Old Kingdom, late Fifth Dynasty (or First Intermediate Period 10th Dynasty, if Merikare)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Old Kingdom — 5th Dynasty / Herakleopolitan 10th Dynasty)
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (royal workshop — Menkauhor / Merikare)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb pyramid — badly ruined true pyramid (base ~52 m), originally ~30 m high, stripped for stone leaving only core and substructure
- Abandoned
- c.2180 BCE / Roman period stone robbing
- Rediscovered
- 1843 Lepsius; 2008 Hawass re-excavation
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1843
Lepsius catalogues as Steinpyramide XXIX, notes headless rubble mound
1881
Gaston Maspero enters corridor searching for Pyramid Texts (none found)
1930
Cecil Firth briefly clears area, assigns to Merikare via stelae
2008
Zahi Hawass Supreme Council re-excavation, clears substructure, claims Menkauhor
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8716° N · 31.2239° E · 58 m · 3 mapped features
Rubble core and casing robber trench
pyramidHeadless rubble core 5 m high with encircling robber trench where Tura casing was stripped
29.8716° N · 31.2239° EDescending corridor and burial chamber
corridorSubstructure: descending limestone corridor with granite portcullis slot leading to antechamber and burial chamber with basalt fragments
29.8717° N · 31.2240° EEast mortuary temple foundation
templeMudbrick foundation stubs of mortuary temple east of pyramid, cut by Saite shaft tombs
29.8715° N · 31.2242° E