He core or inner structure of the mastaba is the least studied part of this type of tomb, widely used in the Old Kingdom but mostly scrutinised for its two main components and their evolution, namely the chapel and the burial chamber. Earlier focus on epigraphy and decoration is certainly responsible for this situation, or rather its prehistory, since egyptology has long since joined the mainstream of modern archaeological investigations and interest in architecture and archaeometry. However, while the structure and the building methods of the pyramids have attracted considerable attention (for better or worse), similar (but serious) studies on mastabas clearly remain in their infancy.
A number of factors certainly explain this situation. First, excavating a mastaba core cannot but be destructive and has been rightly avoided. However, a number of interesting observations can be made when the superstructure is in an incomplete state of preservation, which is usually the case: blocks belonging to the upper rows of the retaining wall(s) were frequently torn out for reuse, or simply fell down as a result of a combination of various natural forces. second, as the cores mostly consist of rubble, it is certainly a painful task to examine them carefully and truly difficult to distinguish between original strata and demolition layers for the top, most accessible levels. From a logical perspective, this may appear to be a desperately time-consuming archaeology of little value. hird, as all the mastabas do not share the same structure, there is a great difference in the range of possible observations. As is well known, there was a growing development within the Old Kingdom towards an increase in the number and size of rooms within the superstructure, so that the core proper had less volume than earlier; at the same time there was a growing tendency towards building smaller structures. As one may suppose, the reduced core was built with lesser means and care because its stability was not any more at the heart of the structural survival of the whole monument.
World History
