In the tomb of a princess named Nubhetep, near at hand, were found more jewels of the same style as those of Sit-hathor and Merit.  The pyramid itself contained the usual passages and chambers, which were reached with much difficulty and considerable tunnelling by M. de Morgan.  In fact, the search for the royal death-chambers lasted from December 5, 1894, till March 17, 1895, when the excavators’ gallery finally struck one of the ancient passages, which were found to be unusually extensive, contrasting in this respect with the northern pyramid.  The royal tomb-chamber had, of course, been emptied of what it contained.  It must be remembered that, in any case, it is probable that the king was not actually buried here, but in the pyramid of Hawara.

The pyramid of Amenemhat II, which lies between the two brick pyramids, was built entirely of stone.  Nothing of it remains above ground, but the investigation of the subterranean portions showed that it was remarkable for the massiveness of its stones and the care with which the masonry was executed.  The same characteristics are found in the dependent tombs of the princesses Ha and Khnumet, in which more jewelry was found.  This splendid stonework is characteristic of the Middle Kingdom; we find it also in the temple of Mentuhetep III at Thebes.

Some distance south of Dashur is Medum, where the pyramid of Sneferu reigns in solitude, and beyond this again is Lisht, where in the years 1894-6 MM.  Gautier and Jequier excavated the pyramid of Usertsen (Sen-usret) I. The most remarkable find was a cache of the seated statues of the king in white limestone, in absolutely perfect condition.  They were found lying on their sides, just as they had been hidden.  Six figures of the king in the form of Osiris, with the face painted red, were also found.  Such figures seem to have been regularly set up in front of a royal sepulchre; several were found in front of the funerary temple of Mentu-hetep III, Thebes, which we shall describe later.  A fine altar of gray granite, with representations in relief of the nomes bringing offerings, was also recovered.  The pyramid of Lisht itself is not built of bricks, like those of Dashur, but of stone.  It was not, however, erected in so solid a fashion as those of earlier days at Giza or Abusir, and nothing is left of it now but a heap of debris.  The XIIth Dynasty architects built walls of magnificent masonry, as we have seen, and there is no doubt that the stone casing of their pyramids was originally very fine, but the interior is of brick or rubble; the wonderful system of building employed by kings of the IVth Dynasty at Giza was not practised.

South of Lisht is Illahun, and at the entrance to the province of the Fayyum, and west of this, nearer the Fayyum, is Hawara, where Prof.  Petrie excavated the pyramids of Usertsen (Senusret) II and Amenem-hat III.  His discoveries have already been described by Prof.  Maspero in his history, so that it will suffice here merely to compare them with the results of M. de Morgan’s later work at Dashur and that of MM.  Gautier and Jequier at Lisht, to note recent conclusions in connection with them, and to describe the newest discoveries in the same region.