Behind each great archaeological discovery there are at least two stories: who found it and how, and to whom it belonged. In case of the buried, or unfinished, step pyramid at Saqqara, both stories are fascinating. But one definitely does not come with a happy ending. Dr. Zahi Hawass tells us about the 1951 discovery of the Buried Pyramid at Saqqara by Egyptian archaeologist Zakari Goneim, and about how professional jealousy and false accusations eventually ended Goneim’s life as well as his career.
In the 27th Century BC, Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser was buried in the famous – and first ever – pyramid at Saqqara in Lower Egypt. His successor Djosery – or Sekhemkhet as Goneim would discover – inherited not only the rulership, but also the famous Old Kingdom architect Imhotep who designed Sekhemkhet his very own step pyramid. It is believed that the new pharaoh only reigned shortly – six or seven years – and he died before his monumental tomb was completed. Had his step pyramid been finished in it’s full grandeur of seven steps, it would have been larger than his predecessor’s.
Almost 5 millennia later in 1951, a young Egyptian archaeologist named Zakaria Goneim discovered at Saqqara the ruins of a previously unknown pyramid, of which the design was very similar to Djoser’s Step Pyramid.
Goneim and his team unearthed a gold cache, bracelets, papyri and other small items as well as pottery bearing the first ever mention of Sekhemkhet’s name. A new Pharaoh had been identified!
Zakaria Goneim and his team continued to the burial chamber where in 1954 they found a mysterious polished alabaster sarcophagus. It had no coping stone, but a rather ingenious sliding partition, with undamaged seals. Could it be? A pharoah who was never disturbed from his eternal slumber? An overly enthusiast Goneim called in the media, important politicians (even President Nasser attended) and his fellow archaeologists, only to open up…an empty sarcophagus. Fairly embarressing – but a 3rd dynasty pyramid is a great discovery, mummy or no mummy.
Goneim – now famous – then left for the United States to go on a lecture tour to promote his book, ‘The Buried Pyramid’. A star on the rise, he returned to Egypt only to see his luck turn. Muhammed Zakaria Goneim had been put in charge of the storage of valuable antique artefacts in Cairo, but was accused of smuggling antiquities out of the country, amongst which a large vessel found near the Djoser complex two years earlier. Though there is no hard evidence of any crime, only accusations and slander, Goneim was interrogated by the police repeatedly and quickly became a broken man.
In an attempt to clear Goneim’s name, Jean-Philippe Lauer located the missing vessel in a corner of the Egyptian Museums’ storage. Too late: a few days earlier, on the 12th of January 1959 Muhammed Zakaria Goneim was found dead at Manial el Roda, either murdered or drowned in the Nile.
I must admit… Dr. Hawass tells this sad tale better than I ever could! Just watch the video. For more inspiring and fascinating videos about excavations at Saqqara keep an eye on the Heritage Key YouTube channel – better yet, subscribe – or go directly to Dr Vassil Dobrev talking about his hunt for the Lost Pharaoh Userkare or learn about the treasures found at the tomb of Aper-el from Dr. Alain Zivie.
