Northern Mazghuna Pyramid
North Mazghuna Pyramid · Pyramid of Amenemhat IV (?) · Mazghuna North (Sobekneferu?)
Late 12th Dynasty to early 13th Dynasty (Amenemhat IV / Sobekneferu, c.1800 BCE)·Ancient Egyptian (late Middle Kingdom, 12th–13th Dynasty)·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, desert 5 km south of Dahshur at Mazghuna, west of Nile, Egypt
About
About Northern Mazghuna Pyramid
Unfinished late Middle Kingdom pyramid at Mazghuna North (late 12th to early 13th Dynasty, Amenemhat IV or Sobekneferu c.1800 BCE). Mudbrick core 52.5 m base, intended ~30 m high, with brick enclosure, undulating-wall foundation, and U-shaped trench. Substructure: descending corridor with quartzite portcullis and unfinished quartzite sarcophagus. Excavated Petrie-Ernest Mackay 1910–11, re-studied Arnold 1970s. Never completed; casing never laid. Companion to Mazghuna South 0.8 km south.
Why it mattersKey late Middle Kingdom unfinished pyramid; shows transition from Dahshur to Fayum and end of Middle Kingdom pyramid building with Amenemhat III–IV to Sobekneferu.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Amenemhat IV vs Sobekneferu female pharaoh attribution
- 02Why both Mazghuna pyramids abandoned together
Theories
- 01Centralised decline after Amenemhat III; Sobekneferu short reign left northern pyramid incomplete
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, provisional)
- Period
- Late 12th Dynasty to early 13th Dynasty (Amenemhat IV / Sobekneferu, c.1800 BCE)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (late Middle Kingdom, 12th–13th Dynasty)
- Purpose
- Unfinished royal tomb for late 12th Dynasty ruler (Amenemhat IV/Sobekneferu)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1800 BCE (Amenemhat IV, provisional)
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1200–600 BCE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
29.7675° N · 31.2208° E · 45 m · 3 mapped features
Northern Mazghuna mudbrick mass
pyramid52.5 m mudbrick pyramid core with U-trench
29.7675° N · 31.2208° EQuartzite portcullis corridor
corridorDescending corridor with two quartzite blocking slabs
29.7673° N · 31.2206° EUndulating-wall enclosure
wallUndulating brick enclosure foundation surrounding base
29.7677° N · 31.2210° E
Gallery