Archaeoastronomy and Archaeo-Topography as Tools in the Search for a Missing Egyptian Pyramid

Abstract

Among the royal pyramids of the 6th Egyptian Dynasty, that of the second king, Userkare, is missing. This Pharaoh, however, ruled long enough two to four years to plan his pyramid on the ground and have the workers excavate the substructure. Userkares unfi nished tomb might therefore be buried in the sands of the Memphite necropolis, possibly with a copy of the Pyramid Texts carved on its walls. In the present paper, methods based on archaeo-topography and archaeoastronomy have been applied with the aim of fi nding the possible location of the building site of this monument.