Artefacts of Excavation

The field team cleared several cemeteries between Abadiya and Hu that collectively were published in the volume 'Diospolis Parva'. Excavations were led by David Randall-MacIver, Arthur Mace and Flinders Petrie at various cemeteries. Miss Lawes drew pottery while Hilda Petrie and Beatrice Orme drew marks on the pottery and numbered finds and skeletal remains.

Cemetery A contained mainly historic period graves of the New Kingdom (Dynasty 18), the Old Kingdom and a few prehistoric (Predynastic) burials

Cemetery B contained Predynastic graves and was described by Petrie as one of the largest and best of the season. Petrie led the excavations and recording in this area, clearing some 570 tombs.

Cemetery C was an isolated hill, with shallow circular graves of the early Predynastic (Naqada I) period.

Cemetery D contained a group of mastaba tombs and graves of Dynasty 6, excavated under the direction of Flinders Petrie.

Cemetery E was found to include a few graves of the Middle Kingdom (Dynasty 12-13)

Area F was described as a prehistoric settlement, but not closely investigated. 

Cemetery H contained Predynastic graves excavated under the direction of Mace and Iles. The highest number recorded in the publication is H90, but one surviving notebook in the Petrie Museum records up to H135.

Cemetery J contained New Kingdom (Dynasty 18) graves, but was found to be heavily plundered.   

Cemetery K was dated to the Roman period.

Cemeteries L and M were described as containing a few Middle Kingdom burials (Dynasties 12-13).

Cemetery N was published as containing only one important tomb of the Old Kingdom which was investigated under Randall-MacIver.

Cemeteries R contained Predynastic graves cleared partly under the direction of Randall-MacIver and later by Mace. The excavation report records some of the graves up to R134, but surviving excavation notebooks in the Petrie Museum record grave numbers up to R225.

Cemetery U  contained Predynastic graves cleared under the direction of Randall-MacIver. He recorded up to at least U364. 

Cemetery W was excavated under the direction of Flinders Petrie. At least 177 graves were recorded of the Old and Middle Kingdoms. 

Cemetery X contained 'Pan graves'. 

Cemetery Y was investigated by Mace, and found to contain Old to Middle Kingdom tombs, as well as some Pan graves. Shallow surface graves of the Middle to New Kingdoms were marked YS. At least 490 graves were recorded.