Meroe Pyramid N09 Stabilization of the Descendary

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Meroe, Sudan
National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums Sudan (NCAM)
2016 – 2017
Implementing of Securing Constructions
Qatari Mission for the Pyramids of Sudan (QMPS), DAI, Ingenieugruppe Bauen, Josef Steiner, Thorsten Bunk

A re-opening of the burial chambers of Beg.N09 started in 2015 but was stopped unscheduled because of the cracks in the descendary. It had to be stabilized to secure the foundation of Pyramid N18 and to allow the re-excavation and opening of the burial chambers. The descendary was refilled and secured by a fence. Pyramid Beg. N18 was stabilized by a corset of metal and wood to be on the safe side. To execute the needed stabilizing measures the refill of 2015 had to be removed again. Missing parts in the rock face were filled up to support the overhanging stones on top. By closing the irregularities in the rock with stones, they did not have to be poured with concrete. Several supplementary measures were taken to protect pyramid Beg.N18 during excavation and construction work. The construction work gave the opportunity to reset the sunken foundation blocks of Beg.N18 (south-west corner). The reinforcements were built according to the structural engineer’s specifications and the formwork was filled with concrete which was mixed on site.