layer pyramid known locally arabic arabic meaning rubble hill pyramid ruined step pyramid dating 3rd dynasty egypt located ownership uncertain pyramid architecture similar buried pyramid king reason firmly 3rd dynasty pyramid excavated beginning 20th century different teams reported conflicting estimates size number subterranean chambers artefacts found course excavations trace burial found reason unclear pyramid bury abandoned following premature death king time construction pyramid surrounded housing large belonging high officials 3rd dynasty state temple built eastern pyramid valley temple possibly located metres pyramid located confines restricted military area barring modern excavations site research history layer pyramid examined surroundings explored soon pyramid identified listed number pioneering list years later unsuccessfully searched entrance subterranean passages pyramid discovered undertook excavations pyramid stopped clearing steps descending investigations performed uncovered vertical access shaft leading burial chamber seeing corridors chambers seemingly unfinished completely devoid artefacts deemed pyramid shortly worked site north east pyramid surrounding dimensions pyramid estimated fisher differ greatly numbers subterranean galleries report disagreement unfortunately pyramid lies restricted military area consequently excavation undertaken fisher superficial work leaving structures beneath pyramid doubt furthermore pyramid modern dimensions description location layer pyramid lies close south west north main structure located rock ridge superstructure layer pyramid square base long slightly smaller step based dimensions pyramid estimated layer pyramid originally planned comprise steps reached height today steps remain reaching height current ruined state pyramid allows view core mound poor quality rough stone blocks taken local bedrock core surrounded thick masonry turn surrounded layers mud bricks clay mortar disposed vertically inward angle inner stone pyramid core mud brick layer thick pyramid finished left unfinished disputed experts believes pyramid finished think building left unfinished premature death particular traces outer found hint pyramid completed mud bricks found base pyramid associated pyramid interpreted remnants construction ramp disposition layer pyramid extremely similar found consequently suggest constructed close time entrance subterranean structures lies east disposition construction pyramid years later proposed unique feature chosen egyptian architects order free north pyramid construction temple showed situation pyramid construction ramp northern temple construction explains unique eastern entrance resulting desire architects allow easy access pyramid store rooms located immediately beneath eastern entrance entrance immediately leads long steep corridor heads west corridor ends straight vertical shaft called upper corridor unfinished passage goes south center pyramid shaft shaped left leads south lower corridor half way narrow narrow hardly passed lower corridor finishes king burial chamber area drew gallery leading burial chamber gallery absent fisher notes right shaped shaped gallery system ground plan gallery system resembles comprising rows chambers totalling possibly destined storage rooms gallery proved clean left king burial chamber located ground nearly square shape base ceiling height burial chamber contained traces absence artefacts gallery hints premature death king complex layer pyramid shows trace enclosure wall present earlier later pyramid complexes stones wall robbed time simply wall started usually element pyramid complex built eastern pyramid remnants brick walls indicate presence temple archaeological traces closer examination precise reconstruction impossible today goes ruins building metres away pyramid valley temple valley temple east west orientation unique pyramid complexes layer pyramid surrounded total dating 1st dynasty 2nd dynasty late 3rd dynasty 18th dynasty roman period dating late 3rd dynasty contains large tombs mud brick fisher observe expected surrounding pyramid large tombs royal family court officials particular metres north layer pyramid huge today known yielded marble inscribed king fisher conclude belong people connected king built pyramid probable king opinion shared attribute layer pyramid date architecture layer pyramid allows dated time span reigns king king founder 4th dynasty compare architecture layer pyramid step expecting layer pyramid originally consisted steps near contemporary predecessors layer pyramid exhibits site complex developments concerning concerning building methods employed superstructure according layer pyramid clearly advanced version buried pyramid remaining problem layer pyramid question built scholars today believe likely king late 3rd dynasty conclusion based stone bearing discovered located north pyramid goes identifies king ruler 3rd dynasty hypothesis based reading canon compiled early period years lifetime canon credits relatively long reign years according time sufficient cover time span needed complete building layer pyramid argues royal monuments egyptian present king later record throne birth correspond throne case layer pyramid tomb conclusion contested think instead built pyramid point apparent unfinished state layer pyramid identify king mentioned canon
Layer Pyramid