Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-06-24
JEWELS OF PRINCESS
LOCATED IN PYRAMID
Professor Flinders Petrie Tells
of an Extraordinary Dis
covery in Egypt.

Prof. Flinders Petrie, in an article in
the Londo Times, tells of the discov-
cry last winter of h jewels of an
Egyptian princess at the brick pyra-
mid of Senusert II. at the mouth of the
Fayum. h pyramid was built about
S40O B. C.. Professor Petrie was work.
Ing with the students and Of
the British School of Archaeology in
Egypt. He says:
This pyramid is better preserved
than any other. in its surrounding
works. owing to having been largely
cut into a mass of rock. The sides
probably varied two or three inches:
the length vas $50 feet. So careful
We're the builders to preserve the soft
marty foundations from damage by rain
that a large trench filled with sand was
cut around all sides of the pyramid.
III trench varies from II feet wide
on n sid to "A feet wide On the
other. The whole was inclosed with
a paneled stone wall at least IL feet
high.
Around the enclosure wall were the
tombs of the royal family, of which IA
have been found. One of the most re-
markable Is a great tunnel descending
by steps to so feet deep; after giving
access to tomb. 1T branched, and
another long passage led to a second
tomb 20 feet farther on. Another tomb
a a stone trapdoor in the floor, which
gave tho largest access Ito the pyramid,
and 1T must have been by this indirect
way that the granite sarcophagus of
Senusert was taken into the burial
chamber. as the direct shaft into the
pyramid was too narrow. Surrounding
all the burials was the great brick wall
OF the temenos.
Ancient MaIiets Found.
"The great enclosure was graced OF
IN lower sides by a line of trees around
If kNf9 p1n onto nf tho cNy,1nk,,ro1 md
painted shrines were found; these adj
Joined the pyramid on the east and
the north Sides. Many Of the wooden
mallets Of the masons, n rollers for
moving the stones, were found left be-
hind on h rock foundations.
"One Of the tombs of the royal fam
lily had evidently been opened ages ago
remained standing open, gradually
filled up by lust and rainstorms. On
descending about 20 feet, the burial
chamber of a princess was found, OBJ
tanning a granite sarcophagus; this had
been attacked. a hole broken in the
lid, n everything distracted. So far,
nothing unusual appeared, and our
was told to clear the hard
mud out OF a small recess. about three
feet wide and five feet deep. in the
side wall of the passage. This recess
ually filled with mud washed down and
caked hard-nothing could look less
promising. After a few cuts Of the
pick the man found some tubular beads
of gold. He at once sent for one of the
staff to return. and after tina the
hands. Five days were occupied and
some evenings as we'll. February 1915.
in the gradual dissection Of that cubic
yard of mud.
Gold Beads and Diadsm.
The first large object found after a
pound OF weight Of gold beads was the
This is q band Of FURNISHED
enough to surround the full wig. In
front Is an inlaid cobra. the royal
uraeus. and around the hand are at
tracted Is rosettes. each composed Of
four flowers and four leaves Of open
work inlaid. Behind the crown $1,000
and sides. streamers OF gold descended
the whole crown being over a foot
and a half high.
"a pectoral Of gold inlaid with laxuli
and amazon-stone (green felspar) must
have belonged to the gtrlhood Of the
Senusert II. upheld by a kneehng man
with palm branches, the emblem al
millions Of years. It Is Thanked bv q
hawk on each side. and is altogether
three n one-Quarter inches wide. The
back is exquisttely engraved in the
sign was q gift In the mature years OF
the wearer. a. It q the cartouche Of
Amenembat III. The pectorals from
Dahshur have square frames, but
these outlined by the forms Of the birds
arc more graceful In design. Collars
Of large gold cowries and Of double lion
heads In gold. each more than IN inch
vide. are, similar to those found &
0AAsAur. a third collar was Of beads
q pendaptD OF gold, lAxuli, ama2on.