#  The 4th Dynasty Pyramid Complex of Radjedef at Abu Rawash (Egypt).  

 



## *Publication of the funerary temple and its architectural, archaeological, and statuary context*

In 1900, Émile Chassinat initiated excavations of the pyramid complex of King Radjedef (Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, ca. 2560 BCE) at Abu Rawash (30.0323° N, 31.0747° E), on behalf of the Institut français d’archéologie orientale (IFAO). His work concentrated primarily on the funerary temple located east of the pyramid, one of the earliest monumental temples of the Old Kingdom. Despite its importance for the understanding of early royal cult architecture, this temple has never been fully published.

During the clearing of the temple area, Chassinat uncovered a large boat-shaped pit containing numerous fragments of royal quartzite statues. These remarkable finds were documented only briefly at the time and published in isolation, without a comprehensive architectural or contextual study of the temple itself. As a result, the relationship between the temple’s layout, its cultic function, and its statuary program remains insufficiently understood.

The present project aims to address this gap by producing a complete scholarly publication of Radjedef’s funerary temple, integrating architectural remains, stratigraphy, excavation history, and associated finds. The statuary, excavated within the temple precinct, will be studied and published as part of the temple’s original decorative and ritual apparatus, rather than as an isolated corpus.

The results will be published in a collective monograph entitled “Abu Rawash II. The funerary temple and the statues of Radjedef” in the Fouilles de l’Institut français d’archéologie orientale (FIFAO) series. The publication project is directed by Drs. [**Yann Tristant**](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/people/yann-tristant) and [**Mélanie Flossman-Schütze**.](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/people/melanie-flossman)



 

 [   ![Photo of the funerary temple during the excavation of Chassinat ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-06/fig1.jpg?itok=tuk2osE8) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Photo of the funerary temple during the excavation of Chassinat </p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>Photo of the funerary temple during the excavation of Chassinat © Archives É. Chassinat.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-06/fig1.jpg) Photo of the funerary temple during the excavation of Chassinat

 



 [   ![Map of the funerary temple made by Chassinat. The statues’ fragments all come from the boat pit belonging to the pyramid © Archives É. Chassinat.](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-06/Fig.%202.jpg?itok=W4bdrZAF) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Map of the funerary temple made by Chassinat</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>Map of the funerary temple made by Chassinat. The statues’ fragments all come from the boat pit belonging to the pyramid © Archives É. Chassinat.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-06/Fig.%202.jpg) Map of the funerary temple made by Chassinat

 



 [   ![Map of the funerary temple made by Valloggia © Valloggia 2011, IFAO-University of Geneva.](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-06/fig.%203.jpg?itok=v0ZwWYyp) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Map of the funerary temple made by Valloggia </p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>Map of the funerary temple made by Valloggia © Valloggia 2011, IFAO-University of Geneva.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-06/fig.%203.jpg) Map of the funerary temple made by Valloggia

 



 [   ![Reconstructed statues based on the Munich and Louvre fragments. The fragments at IFAO are to be incorporated into the existing 3D models © SMAEK.](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-06/fig.5.jpg?itok=IgdI6MoM) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Reconstructed statues based on the Munich and Louvre fragments.</p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>Reconstructed statues based on the Munich and Louvre fragments. The fragments at IFAO are to be incorporated into the existing 3D models © SMAEK.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-06/fig.5.jpg) Reconstructed statues based on the Munich and Louvre fragments.

 



 [   ![Example of a statue reconstruction with fragments from the Louvre and Munich. In addition to matching broken edges, the color and structure of the stone help to assemble statues digitally © SMAEK.](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-06/fig.6.jpg?itok=cI8jD4lb) 

  <div class="hwp-media-gallery--caption-content"><p class="hwp-media-gallery--item\_\_title">Example of a statue reconstruction with fragments from the Louvre and Munich. </p><div class="hwp-text-block"><p><em>Example of a statue reconstruction with fragments from the Louvre and Munich. In addition to matching broken edges, the color and structure of the stone help to assemble statues digitally © SMAEK.</em></p></div></div>   

 ](https://whitelevy.fas.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum3196/files/2026-06/fig.6.jpg) Example of a statue reconstruction with fragments from the Louvre and Munich.

 



 

 



 



 

 See also:- [ 2026 Sponsored Projects ](/sponsored-projects-year/2026-sponsored-projects)
- [ Egypt & Sudan ](/sponsored-projects-area/egypt-sudan)