Foundation Deposits

Groups of small objects were deliberately buried in the foundations of templesand other important buildings as offerings. These deposits include model tools, building materials and food offerings. They were intended to magically maintain the building. Foundation deposits often carry the name of the king responsible for beginning the construction project, providing a useful way to date a structure. All of these deposits come from the 'temples of a million years' at Western Thebes.

Foundation Plaques (Acc. 1558a-d, 1559a-d)

Blue faience (#1558) and white faience (#1559) plaques, oblong, with the cartouche of Queen Tausret.

~3.7 x 1.7 cm 19th Dynasty Thebes: West Bank, Upper Egypt Acquisition: Haworth, Mr Jesse (Donation, 1895-1896)

Bibliography

W.M. Flinders Petrie, "Six Temples at Thebes 1896" (Bernard Quaritch, London, 1897)

PL. XVI, no. 3

(Top of picture)

Faience Foundation Plaques representing sacrificed, headless oxen (1560.a-p)

1.5 x 1.7 19th Dynasty

Thebes: West Bank, Egypt

Acquisition: Haworth, Mr Jesse (Donation, 1895-1896)

Bibliography

W.M. Flinders Petrie, "Six Temples at Thebes 1896" (Bernard Quaritch, London, 1897)