pyramid pyramid complex built reign founder 5th dynasty egypt located pyramid field north east step pyramid reigned constructed dressed stone core rubble pyramid ruined resembles conical hill sands reason known locally stone recognized royal pyramid western archaeologists 19th century pyramid larger complex comprising temple offering chapel cult pyramid separate pyramid temple wife queen temple cult pyramid today completely ruined difficult recognize pyramid queen mound rubble chamber exposed stone complex markedly different built 4th dynasty size architecture location pyramid complex manifestation profound changes ideology took place 4th 5th changes started reign likely immediate predecessor years construction pyramid complex restored later period cemetery discovery excavations entrance pyramid discovered italian entered years later took advantage existing tunnel dug pyramid tomb know sure owner pyramid attributed reign late 5th dynasty investigations buried tunnel remains inaccessible day pyramid entered official records years later list number buried tunnel time investigate pyramid pyramid neglected october cecil architect started season excavation cleared south pyramid area discovering temple tombs later period following year uncovered limestone relief slab red granite head determining pyramid owner death excavations took place site resumed worked clearing planning temple investigating eastern pyramid research north west sides complex conducted starting excavated restored pyramid entrance entrance buried rubble earthquake recent work pyramid undertaken layout complex comprises structures 4th dynasty predecessors high wall surrounded complex pyramid high temple certainly valley temple located closer uncovered valley temple connected pyramid causeway exact trajectory unknown meters visible today layout complex differs significantly earlier complexes organized north south axis east west high temple located south main pyramid structures turned away furthermore small offering chapel adjoining eastern base pyramid configuration offering usually occupy inner temple finally immediately south enclosure second smaller pyramid complex attributed wife queen reason changes unclear proposed explain hypothesis change ideology advent 5th dynasty marks growing importance cult sun hinted directly evidenced large sun temples built dynasty tradition initiated finally demonstrate strong connection cult sun cult dynasty offerings deceased ruler consecrated sun temple dispatched temple located temple south main pyramid sun shine directly year round second hypothesis holds chose return 3rd dynasty traditions choose construct complex north east corner complex layout similar organized north south axis entrances located south end eastern hypothesis proposes choice practical considerations discovered large moat completely surrounding enclosure places deep metres moat stone quarry material construction step pyramid reason important locate complex north east corner enclosure moat space available temple located east local topography explain peculiar layout complex temple temple layout architecture difficult establish certainty extensively stone large period shaft tomb dug midst damaging modern temple nonetheless shared elements temples time reigned complex layout temple differ significantly predecessors causeway entered pyramid enclosure southern end east wall entrance corridor branched south magazine rooms roof terrace north doorway led entrance hall turn led open black courtyard bordered sides south red granite pillars bearing titles king head found second oldest monumental statue egyptian ruler great head belonged metre high statue represents wearing walls courtyard adorned fine high depicting scenes life boat crew names estates connected cult king doors south east south west corners courtyard led small hall pairs red granite pillars storage chambers inner statue statues king placed facing pyramid north contrary temples inner separated pyramid courtyard remains temple visible today paving large granite blocks framing outer door offering chapel small offering chapel adjoining eastern main pyramid barely visible today consisted central room large false door narrow chambers sides like temple chapel black walls limestone granite adorned fine offering scenes cult pyramid south west corner complex small cult pyramid pyramid destined receive deceased housed statue stood metres high base metres long slope identical main pyramid position cult pyramid complex unusual cult pyramid normally located south eastern corner difference certainly linked peculiar overall north south layout complex south eastern corner hosting entrance temple core pyramid roughly limestone blocks similar main pyramid disposed layers finally clad fine limestone fell victim stone consequently poor quality pyramid core exposed rapidly lowest layers pyramid visible today pyramid shaped descending corridor leading chamber roof similarly main pyramid constructed shallow open pit dug ground pyramid construction started located ground level main pyramid construction pyramid located northeast corner step pyramid complex pyramid originally metres high metres large identical great pyramid total volume core pyramid built small roughly blocks local limestone disposed horizontal layers meant considerable saving labor compared large accurately stone 4th dynasty outer pyramid fell victim stone loosely assembled core material progressively exposed fared worse time older explains current ruined state pyramid pyramid core constructed step like structure construction technique similar 4th dynasty building material significantly lower quality outer pyramid fine limestone certainly ensured construction appearance similar glorious 4th dynasty red granite lower pyramid case pyramid pyramid internal chambers chambers located underground constructed deep open ditch dug pyramid construction started later covered pyramid entrance underground chambers located north pyramid pavement court pyramid face different 4th dynasty entrance internal chambers located pyramid entrance bedrock large white limestone removed modern times entrance metres long southward descending passage leads horizontal tunnel metres pyramid base meters tunnel red granite tunnel blocked large red granite having traces plaster seal granite barrier corridor branches eastward shaped magazine chamber probably contained equipment presence magazine chamber located base pyramid unique 5th 6th dynasty south end corridor lies located directly tip pyramid oriented east west axis leads west king burial chamber burial chamber height width longer western end burial chamber discovered fragments black originally placed slight depression chest chambers protected pyramid weight ceiling large limestone blocks architecture common 5th 6th chambers lined material floor pavement lost stone pyramid complex common prepare family close theirs followed tradition metres south enclosure small separate pyramid complex built queen east west axis pyramid completely ruined small mound rubble seen today discovery pyramid queen recognized following excavations south main pyramid year later proposed pyramid assigned wife mother discovered tomb priest court tomb located immediate vicinity complex yielded inscribed stone giving rank queen stone display evidence confirming assignment pyramid discovered excavated ruins temple consequently small pyramid complex attributed pyramid queen pyramid originally stood metres high slope similar base metres long core pyramid built technique main pyramid cult pyramid consisting horizontal layers roughly local limestone blocks mortar core undoubtedly covered fine limestone outer removed fact pyramid extensively stone quarry later times barely distinguishable surroundings internal chambers exposed entrance located pyramid northern consists descending passage leading shaped chamber chamber located tip pyramid oriented east west axis like rest queen pyramid complex roof large limestone blocks construction technique common pyramid chambers 5th dynasty scaled version magazines temple queen pyramid complex separate temple located east pyramid contrast complex difference explained small dimensions temple allowed oriented east usual fashion access temple located south east corner enclosure wall entrance led open courtyard stretched east west ritual cleaning preparation offerings took place extensive degradation suffered temple reconstruction attempts somewhat speculative ruins archaeologists propose temple comprised open possibly granite chapel adjoining pyramid statue magazine chambers traces cult pyramid found halls temple depictions animal offerings carriers moving shrine queen later alterations pyramid apparently object restoration work antiquity impulse fourth son attested inscriptions stone showing offering 26th dynasty temple burial ground large shaft tomb dug midst rendering modern reconstruction layout difficult indicates time period temple ruins
Pyramid of Userkaf