Abstract
In the spring season 2018, the mission of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, Faculty of Arts, Charles University excavated a large tomb (29.60 x 13.20 m) designated as AS 104, being the 104th explored structure in this area. As the works revealed, the mastaba belongs to the so-called transitional type of structures combining features of the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom tombs.
Thus, it can be dated to the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty, most probably to the reign of King Snofru. The main cultic area of this period was a cruciform chapel located in the south-eastern part and accessed via an entrance from the north.
The original owner was the official Niankhseshat whose name is attested on an offering basin found in the chapel. However, it became apparent that the mastaba was (re-)used in the following dynasty again.
One of three niches in the eastern façade of the tomb, near the north-eastern corner, contained a spectacular stela combining an offering scene and two engaged statues of a dignitary Sekhemka and his spouse Henutsen. On the basis of its stylistic features it can be dated to the Fifth Dynasty, referring thus to the second phase of burial and mortuary activities in this tomb.
Three deep shafts (shaft 1: 17.5 m, shaft 2: 14.5 m, shaft 3: 16.5 m) were uncovered in the substructure of AS 104. Burial chambers at the bottom of 51 these shafts were looted but some items of an original burial equipment were present.
Also the substructure was used at least in two phases. The paper aims at presenting some preliminary observations on the archaeology and architecture of mastaba AS 104, with an analysis of the significant finds, providing thus a contribution to the tomb typology and burial customs of the Old Kingdom.