Pit Graves

History of the Tombs & Pyramids of Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves

The Civilization, Culture & History of Ancient Egypt and facts about Pit Graves, the earliest Egyptian Tombs:

Ancient Egyptians

Ancient Egyptians - Pit Graves
A comprehensive guide and fact sheet about Pit Graves. Discover fascinating facts and information about ancient Egypt and Pit Graves.
 
The preparation of the body
The preparation and location of the grave
Grave markers
Grave Offerings
The use of coffins leading to the evolution of the mastaba tombs
The pyramids of ancient Egypt
The tombs of the Pharaohs
An overview of the Pit Graves of ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptians - Pit Graves
Click a link for additional information and interesting facts about subjects relating to Pit Graves or other aspects of daily life, the people and places of ancient Egypt.

Pit Graves
Learn about the history and development of the ancient pyramids and ancient Egyptian tombs, the fast and easy way via the Pit Graves Fact sheets.

Ancient Egyptian Pit Grave

Ancient Egyptian Pit Grave
 

Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet

Fact 1 on Pit Graves:

The earliest form of ancient Egyptian burial was the pit grave. All ancient Egyptians, both the rich and the poor, were buried in shallow pit graves that were were situated in the desert.
 

Fact 2 on Pit Graves:

The earliest type of grave housed the corpse and gradually small mementos of the deceased were buried with them, such as the weapons or the tools that were used by the deceased.
 

Fact 3 on Pit Graves:

The 'mementoes' took on a different status over time and were viewed as sacrificial offerings to the gods. The more valuable the offering, the happier the gods, affording a fast entry into the Afterlife. Additional offerings were also left by the side of the grave.
 

Fact 4 on Pit Graves:

A shallow rectangular grave, usually with rounded corners, was prepared according the length of the body and was situated on the edge of a desert area. The grave was positioned with reference to the River Nile, so that the body faced the west.
 

Fact 5 on Pit Graves:

The River Nile was believed to be the bridge to the entry of the afterlife. East was a place of beginnings while the west was considered the place of death.
 

Fact 6 on Pit Graves:

The body was cleaned and prepared for burial wrapped in clothes or a shroud. Sometimes unguents and resins were applied to help preserve the body.
 

Fact 7 on Pit Graves:

The corpse was placed directly into the grave, without a coffin, and carefully positioned in a sitting and then a 'foetal' position, on their left sides, facing towards the perceived entry place to the afterlife.
 

Fact 8 on Pit Graves:

The sands of the desert were hot, the body fluids drained away and the corpse underwent a natural form of mummification which reduced decay of the body.
 

Fact 9 on Pit Graves:

The grave was initially covered with hides or reed mats and covered with a mound of rough stones as a memorial or grave marker.
 

Fact 10 on Pit Graves:

The grave markers became more sophisticated and stelaes were added identifying the deceased.
 

Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet

The Sphinx

Pit Graves
Discover fast, interesting fun facts about funerary rituals for kids with some amazing, cool and quick information about ancient Egypt and Egyptians. Ideal for children, homework, schools, teachers and kids of all ages! Find fascinating fun facts about funerary rituals for kids and the history, culture and civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and ancient Egypt. Interesting, fun facts about funerary rituals for research, schools, students and kids of all ages.

 

The Ancient Egyptians

 

Pit Graves
the history and development of the ancient pyramids and ancient Egyptian tombs, the fast and easy way via the Pit Graves Fact sheets.
 

Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet

Fact 11 on Pit Graves:

The first burial customs changed when bodies were placed in wooden or clay coffins.
 

Fact 12 on Pit Graves:

The coffins were then protected even further by the addition of sarcophagi (outer coffins).
 

Fact 13 on Pit Graves:

The graves themselves also changed and were lined with wood or, more often given a lining consisting of mud bricks. A wooden roof was also added to the top of the grave before the stones were added.
 

Fact 14 on Pit Graves:

These changes, designed to protect the body of the corpse, prevented contact between the hot sand and the body. This altered the natural preservation processes and embalming processes and the process of mummification was devised to preserve the body.
 

Fact 15 on Pit Graves:

The ancient Egyptians were using Mudbricks from at least the 1st Dynasty during the time period known in ancient Egyptian history as the Early Dynastic Period c3100 - 2770 B.C. The mudbricks were used to create Mastaba tombs and these would replace the pit graves for royalty and the wealthy.
 

Fact 16 on Pit Graves:

In this way the simple pit graves evolved into a far more impressive type of tomb, a single storey structure called a mastaba.

Mastaba

Traditional mastaba
 

Fact 17 on Pit Graves:

The first pyramid was Djoser's Step Pyramid, and began as a traditional, flat-roofed Mastaba Tomb which was enhanced by the addition of six additional steps or tiers.

Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara

King Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara
 

Ancient Egypt - Pit Graves Fact Sheet

Step Pyramid at Saqqara

Djoser Step Pyramid at Saqqara

 

Pit Graves

Facts and Information about Pit Graves

Funerary rituals

The people, places, culture and civilization of ancient Egypt

Facts and information about Ancient Egypt & the Egyptians

Pit Graves for kids and schools

Pit Graves  for kids, schools, homework and research

Funerary rituals

 

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