Ancient Egyptian coffin fragment from Beni Hasan dated 2055 – 1985 BC

Part of a side panel of a hardwood box coffin, roughly rectangular in shape. Made from a single plank. Damaged by insects, probably termites, which have left the edges eaten away and undermined some of the outer surface by forming cavaties behind it. The surface is fairly flat and has been skimmed with plaster and then painted. A blue band above a white band edges the top of the piece, deliniated by black lines. Beneath that is part of a horizontal row of text, in black edged hieroglyphs filled in, possibly in blue and with a yellowish background. This surface is fairly dirty. The inner surface has the remains of a white plaster finish. Two metal hoops have been inserted along the top edge to allow the piece to be hung in modern times.
See text entries for inscription translation.

Ancient Egyptian coffin fragment from Beni Hasan dated 2055 – 1985 BC

Object details

  • Reference: BOLMG:1904.17.32
  • Material: wood
  • Culture: Dynasty 11
  • Period: Middle Kingdom
  • Excavator: John Garstang
  • Dated: 2055 - 1985 BC
  • Object name: coffin fragment
  • Dimensions: Length: 410mm , Width: 130mm , Depth: 25mm
  • Published references: Garstang J Burial Customs of Ancient Egypt 1907
  • Site: Beni Hasan
  • Latitude: 27.933333
  • Longitude: 30.883333