In the late Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC) cemetery B at Harageh, Engelbach excavated this shaft tomb cut over 6 m deep into the rock. At the bottom a single chamber on the south side contained the burial of a woman supplied with a series of pottery vessels.

Most of the pottery belongs to the usual range of local Egyptian products of that period, and they were either made especially for the tomb or taken from the household tableware. However, two of the vessels were extraordinary in material and form: click here for more information.

Judging from the size of the tomb and the two exotic vessels, it seems that the woman buried here was of high status.

Left: section of tomb 326.
Right: the carnelian, lapis and turquoise bead types found in tomb 326 (scale 1:1).
Bottom right: the Egyptian pottery types found in tomb 326 (scale: 1:8).