THE RE-RECORDING OF DEIR EL-GEBRAWI

The cemetery of Deir el-Gebrawi occupies two cliffs, separated from each other by approximately 1.5km.  Both groups of tombs were recorded in 1900 by N. de G. Davis and the whole cemetery was published in two volumes in 1902 by the Egypt Exploration Society (formally called the Egypt Exploration Fund).

Whilst recording these tombs Davies used one of the undecorated tombs on the south cliff as a dwelling for his expedition, which lasted for 7 weeks during the northern winter of 1900.

 Considering the height of the two cliffs and the distance between them, it is not surprising that Davis’s record of the tombs of the southern cliff. is far the more complete of the two and that more attention and care was given to the tombs of the southern cliff.  Accordingly their publication is more complete than those of the northern group.

The individuals buried at Deir el-Gebrawi are of particular importance.  Whilst holding the title of provincial governors of the Upper Egyptian province No. 12, two of them were also viziers of the south and three others added the governorship of Abydos (province No.8) to that of Deir el-Gebrawi.

The Australian Centre for Egyptology has started a new project to re-record these important tombs and to republish them.  Being on study leave, Naguib Kanawati spent the month of October at Deir el-Gebrawi laying the groundwork for this project.