Overview
During the pilot phase of the research project, several settlements are being investigated that emerged in close temporal proximity in connection with pyramid construction during the Fourth Dynasty (ca. 2600 BCE). One of these is the settlement designated DAM38, located to the north of the valley temple of the Bent Pyramid. Discovered through a geophysical survey conducted in 2013, the settlement extends over an area of approximately 350 × 200 m. Initial excavations have uncovered the remains of two houses, whose walls and ceilings were partially decorated with paintings. In one of the rooms, three limestone column bases were also discovered, which once supported lotus columns. Both buildings feature an open courtyard with five and six storage facilities, respectively. On the basis of both their dimensions and their architectural features, these structures may be interpreted as high-status residences, comparable to the palatial buildings of the period. They should thus be understood in connection with pyramid construction; however, their spatial association with the valley temple also suggests integration into the royal cult.
In addition, investigations began in 2026—made possible through project funding from the Gerda Henkel Stiftung—in the area of the workers’ barracks of the Red Pyramid (DAM1). The ground plans of this building complex were recorded through geomagnetic surveys in 2015. The ongoing excavations now provide insights into the function of the individual spaces and, consequently, into the daily life and infrastructure associated with pyramid construction.
