Tomb families : private tomb distribution in the New Kingdom Theban necropolis

Tomb Families investigates the apparently random distribution of New Kingdom private tombs in the Theban Necropolis by focusing on factors which may have influenced tomb location. The Theban Necropolis contains hundreds of tombs belonging to elite individuals, dating from the end of the Old Kingdom through to the Ptolemaic Period, with the vast majority dating to the New Kingdom (c.1550-1077 BC). These tombs are scattered across the landscape at the edge of the desert between the Valley of the Kings to the west, and the row of royal mortuary temples along the edge of the cultivation to the east. GPS surveying has enabled the spatial analysis of these tombs, demonstrating that specific areas of the necropolis were popular at different times and among particular groups of people. Clusters and patterns can be identified between tombs built during the same reign(s), as well as between tomb owners with similar titles and familial connections. The orientation of specific tombs towards Karnak temple, royal mortuary temples and festival processional routes reveals their significance to certain individuals. This research provides a deeper understanding of the necropolis, and how private tombs linked to the wider sacred landscape of Thebes. Cover Title Page Copyright page Contents Page List of Figures Figure 1: Location of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 2: Areas of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using Google My Maps) Figure 3: Theban Tombs in relation to the rest of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 4: Digital Elevation Model of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 5: The Geology of the Theban Necropolis (Wüst and McLane 2000: 165 – Courtesy of Dr Raphael Wüst) Figure 6: Stratigraphic and lithological composition of the Thebes West area showing the three flat-lying rock formations: Tarawan, Esna and Thebes Formation (Wüst and McLane 2000: 169 - Courtesy of Dr Raphael Wüst) Figure 7: Examples of Natural Features of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own) Figure 8: The bay of cliffs at Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own) Figure 9: The Hathor Chapel within Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple (Author’s own) Figure 10: The goddess Hathor depicted within Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple (Author’s own) Figure 11: Natural and Built Features influencing the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 12: The Division of the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 13: The Temples of Western Thebes (Wilkinson 2000: 172; Copyright owned by Robert Partridge, Ancient Egyptian Picture Library) Figure 14: Map showing location of Middle Kingdom temples, shown in blue (PM I: Pl. V - Courtesy of the Griffith Institute) Figure 15: Location of the Temple of Amenhotep I and Ahmose-Nefertari: Menisut (PM II: Pl. XXXIII - Courtesy of the Griffith Institute) Figure 16: Plan of Deir el-Bahri showing the mortuary temple and valley of Hatshepsut, shown in blue (PM I: Pl. V - Courtesy of the Griffith Institute) Figure 17: The temple of Ramesses IV at Medinet Habu (No. V) (Bács 2011: Figure 1 – Courtesy of Dr Tamás A. Bács) Figure 18: Thebes West at the end of the New Kingdom (Courtesy of Professor Aidan Dodson) Figure 19: Plan of Western Thebes (PM II: Pl. XXXIII – Courtesy of the Griffith Institute) Figure 20: Map of Western Thebes – original edited to highlight processional routes (Dodson and Ikram 2008: 330 – Courtesy of Professor Aidan Dodson) Figure 21: Reconstruction of the New Kingdom fluvial landscape with suggested upstream and downstream locations of the New Kingdom Nile branch (Blue colours suggest the maximum open channel width) (Toonen et al. 2012: Figure 6 - Courtesy of the Theban Har Figure 22: Satellite image of the necropolis showing processional routes in relation to the wider landscape (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 23: Map of the ‘Estate of Amun’ in the New Kingdom, showing main temples and processional routes (Kemp 1989: 203, Figure 71 – Courtesy of Professor Barry Kemp) Figure 24: The location el-Tarif in relation to the rest of the necropolis (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 25: Old Kingdom/ First Intermediate Period TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 26: The el-Khokha hillock from the south (marked) where these earliest tombs are located (Fábián 2011: 43 – Courtesy of Dr Zoltan Fábián. György Csáki's photos from 1989) Figure 27: The south slope of el-Khokha from the north. From right to left TT413, TT185, and TT186 and TT405 (Fábián 2011: 44 - Courtesy of Dr Zoltan Fábián. György Csáki's photos from 1989) Figure 28: OK/FIP TTs and their New Kingdom neighbours within a 50m radius (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 29: TTs at the end of the Middle Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 30: Middle Kingdom TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 31: Sketch Map of the Middle Kingdom Theban Necropolis (Winlock 1915: Figure 1 – Out of Copyright) Figure 32: Middle Kingdom tombs along the northern edge of the causeway at Deir el-Bahri (Allen 1996a: 4 – Courtesy of Professor James Allen) Figure 33: Middle Kingdom tombs at Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own) Figure 34: TTs prior to the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 35: Middle Kingdom TTs (excluding TT270) and their New Kingdom neighbours (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 36: Aerial view of TT320 (Author’s own) Figure 37: Qurna Middle Kingdom TTs and New Kingdom TTs within a 50m radius (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 38: TT270 and its New Kingdom TT neighbours within a 50m radius (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 39: TTs dated to the late Seventeenth or early Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 40: TTs in the early Eighteenth Dynasty (prior to the reign of Hatshepsut) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 41: TTs dated to the reign of Hatshepsut (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 42: TTs dated to the reign of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 43: TTs datable only to the reign of Hatshepsut or Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 44: TTs at the end of the reign of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 45: TTs dated to the reign of Amenhotep II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 46: TTs dated to the reign of Tuthmosis IV (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 47: TTs datable only to the reign of Amenhotep II or Tuthmosis IV (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 48: TTs at the end of the reign of Tuthmosis IV (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 49: TTs dated to the reign of Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 50: TTs datable only to the reign of Amenhotep III or Akhenaten (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 51: TTs dated to the Eighteenth Dynasty- after Amarna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 52: TTs in the Theban Necropolis at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 53: TTs dated to the early Nineteenth Dynasty prior to the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 54: TTs dated to the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 55: TTs in the Theban Necropolis at the end of the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 56: Nineteenth Dynasty TTs dated after the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 57: Nineteenth Dynasty TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 58: TTs in the Theban Necropolis at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 59: Non-reign-specific Ramesside TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 60: Twentieth Dynasty TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 61: Aerial view of Medinet Habu showing flat plain to the west (Author’s own) Figure 62: Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasty TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 63: TTs in the Theban Necropolis at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 64: Part of the New Kingdom necropolis at Saqqara (Author’s own) Figure 65: Reused TTs in Theban Necropolis at the end of the New Kingdom (shown by date of first reuse) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 66: Distributional patterning of Twentieth Dynasty tombs, with numbers indicating the number of tombs attributed to the Twentieth Dynasty in each area (Bács 2011: Figure 5 - Courtesy of Dr Tamás A. Bács) Figure 67: Location of Dra Abu el-Naga within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 68: Landscape of Dra Abu el-Naga (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 69: Dra Abu el-Naga TTs (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 70: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga prior to the reign of Hatshepsut (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 71: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the reign of Tuthmosis III (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 72: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the Amarna Period (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 73: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 74: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of reign of Ramesses II (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 75: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 76: Western cluster of TTs at Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 77: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the New Kingdom (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 78: Western cluster of TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 79: Location of Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 80: Landscape of Dra Abu el-Naga East (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 81: TTs of Dra Abu el-Naga East (indicating location of K93.11 and K93.12) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 82: TTs of Priests in Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 83: Courtyard of TT148 (Author’s own) Figure 84: View of Dra Abu el-Naga East showing TT13, TT14, TT148 and TT255 (Author’s own) Figure 85: TTs of the Temple Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 86: TTs of the Royal Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 87: TTs of the General Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 88: TTs of the Local Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga East (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 89: Plan of shared courtyard of TT20 and TT165 (Kampp 1996: Figure 104 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 90: Plan of shared courtyard of TT19 and TT344 (Kampp 1996: Figure 102 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 91: Reused TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga East at the end of the New Kingdom (shown by date of first reuse) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 92: View from outside TT148 indicating Karnak temple on the East Bank (Author’s own) Figure 93: Zoomed in view of Karnak from Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own) Figure 94: View south indicating the location of Menisut from TT148 (Author’s own) Figure 95: View north-east from outside TT148 over the processional route of the BFV (Author’s own) Figure 96: Seti I Mortuary Temple (Author’s own) Figure 97: Location of Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 98: Landscape of Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 99: TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 100: TTs of Priests in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 101: TTs of the Temple Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 102: TTs of the Royal Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 103: TTs of the General Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 104: TTs of the Local Administration in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 105: TTs of the Military in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 106: The ‘Ramesside Cluster’ in Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 107: The group of TT282, TT283 and TT35, with the mudbrick ramp of TT35 in the centre (Courtesy of the Penn Museum: image no. 34801) Figure 108: Plan of the tomb group of TT282, TT283 and TT35 (Courtesy of the Penn Museum: image no. 195599) Figure 109: Plan of TT288, TT289 and TT304 (Kampp 1996: Figure 454 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 110: Plan of shared courtyard of TT159 and TT286 (Kampp 1996: Figure 344 –Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 111: Plan of TT300 showing entrance to TT301 (Kampp 1996: Figure 462 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 112: Plan of passage linking TT17 and TT145 (Kampp 1996: Figure 323 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 113: Plan of TT260 and TT261 (Kampp 1996: Figure 433 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 114: Plan of TT141 and passage to TT140 (Kampp 1996: Figure 319 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 115: Reused TTs in Dra Abu el-Naga West at the end of the New Kingdom (shown by date of first reuse) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 116: Outlying tombs to the south of Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 117: Plan of TT305, TT306 and TT307 (Kampp 1996: Plan VI – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 118: Karnak’s east-west axis aligned with the southern end of Dra Abu el-Naga West (Author’s own) Figure 119: Zoomed in image of Dra Abu el-Naga West aligned with Karnak’s east-west axis (Author’s own) Figure 120: Location of Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 121: Landscape of Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 122: TTs in Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 123: Middle Kingdom TTs at Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own) Figure 124: Hatshepsut’s Deir el-Bahri temple, with Middle Kingdom temple remains to the left (Author’s own) Figure 125: Landscape of outlying TTs (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 126: Location of outlying TTs in the valley south of Deir el-Bahri (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 127: The Theban Necropolis in the early Middle Kingdom (Allen 1996a: 2 – Courtesy of Professor James Allen) Figure 128: Location of el-Asasif within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 129: Landscape of el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 130: TTs in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 131: Path east from el-Asasif to el-Khokha, with el-Asasif on the left and el-Khokha on the right (Author’s own) Figure 132: View from el-Khokha looking west towards el-Asasif (Author’s own) Figure 133: TTs in el-Asasif at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 134: TTs in el-Asasif at the end of the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 135: TTs in el-Asasif at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 136: The courtyard of TT26 (Author’s own) Figure 137: TTs in el-Asasif at the end of the Ramesside Period (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 138: TTs in el-Asasif at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 139: TTs of Priests in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 140: TTs of the Temple Administration in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 141: TTs of the Royal Administration in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 142: TTs of the General Administration in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 143: TT of the Local Administration in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 144: TTs of the Military in el-Asasif (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 145: Plan of shared courtyard of TT26, TT189, TT190, TT192, TT193, TT194, TT195, TT364 and TT406 (Kampp 1996: Plan V – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 146: Entrance to TT192 with the Qurn mountain in the background (Author’s own) Figure 147: Shared courtyard originally built for TT192 (Author’s own) Figure 148: Plan of shared courtyard of TT408 and TT409 (Kampp 1996: Figure 508 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 149: View over entrance to TT408 and TT409 (Author’s own) Figure 150: Plan of TT28 and TT25 (Kampp 1996: Figure 112 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 151: Plan of shared courtyard of TT188 and TT374 (Kampp 1996: Figure 374 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 152: View of the Deir el-Bahri temples from el-Asasif (Author’s own) Figure 153: View of Middle Kingdom Deir el-Bahri tombs from el-Asasif (Author’s own) Figure 154: Location of el-Khokha within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 155: Landscape of el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 156: TTs in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 157: TTs in el-Khokha dated prior to the reign of Hatshepsut (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 158: View from northern el-Khokha towards Deir el-Bahri, with Middle Kingdom tombs along the northern causeway visible in the background (Author’s own) Figure 159: TTs in el-Khokha dated to Hatshepsut/Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 160: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the reign of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 161: TTs in el-Khokha dated to Tuthmosis III/Amenhotep II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 162: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the reign of Amenhotep II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 163: TTs in el-Khokha dated to Amenhotep II, Tuthmosis IV or Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 164: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 165: TTs in el-Khokha dated between Amenhotep III and IV (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 166: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 167: TTs in el-Khokha dated to Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 168: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 169: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 170: TTs in el-Khokha datable only to the Ramesside Period (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 171: TTs in el-Khokha datable to the Twentieth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 172: TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 173: Tombs in close proximity in south el-Khokha by the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own) Figure 174: View from el-Khokha towards Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 175: TTs of Priests in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 176: TTs of the Temple Administration in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 177: TTs of the Royal Administration in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 178: TT110 adjacent to TT112 (Author’s own) Figure 179: TTs of the General Administration in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 180: TTs of the Local Administration in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 181: TTs of the Military in el-Khokha (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 182: Plan of shared courtyard of TT105, TT106 and TT107 (Kampp 1996: Figure 266 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 183: Plan of TT176 and TT177(Kampp 1996: Figure 360 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 184: Plan of TT256 and TT257 (Kampp 1996: Figure 430 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 185: Plan of shared courtyard of TT245, TT246, TT247, TT248 and TT258 (Kampp 1996: Figure 419 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 186: TT253, TT254 and TT294 (Kampp 1996: Figure 427 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 187: Plan of shared courtyard of TT178, TT295, TT296 and TT365 (Kampp 1996: Figure 460 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 188: View from above of shared courtyard of TT178, TT295, TT296 and TT365 (Author’s own) Figure 189: Scene from TT178 (Hofmann 1995: Farbtaf. VI a, Sz. 25 – Courtesy of Dr Eva Hofmann: Ägyptologisches Institut Heidelberg) Figure 190: Plan of TT295 and TT296 (Kampp 1996: Figure 459 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 191: Plan of TT179 and TT180 (Kampp 1996: Figure 363 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 192: Plan of TT412 showing breakthrough from TT184 (Kampp 1996: Figure 509 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 193: Plan of TT184 showing breakthrough into TT412 (Kampp 1996: Figure 370 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 194: Shared courtyard of TT49, TT187, TT362 and TT363 (Kampp 1996: Figure 149 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 195: Reused TTs in el-Khokha at the end of the New Kingdom, shown by date of reuse (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 196: el-Khokha showing the location of TT170 and TT171 (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 197: View of eastern Upper Qurna from el-Khokha (Author’s own) Figure 198: Path leading north-west from el-Khokha to Upper Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 199: Location of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 200: Landscape of Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 201: Boundaries of Upper and Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 202: TTs in Qurna prior to the reign of Hatshepsut (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 203: TTs in Qurna conclusively dated prior to the reign of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 204: TTs in Qurna datable to Hatshepsut/Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 205: TTs in Qurna at the end of the reign of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 206: TTs in Qurna dating to Tuthmosis III/Amenhotep II, or Amenhotep II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 207: TTs in Qurna at the end of the reign of Amenhotep II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 208: The façade of TT72 (Author’s own) Figure 209: TTs in Qurna dating to Amenhotep II/Tuthmosis IV, and Tuthmosis IV (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 210: TTs in Qurna dating between Tuthmosis IV and Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 211: TTs in Qurna dating to Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 212: TTs in Qurna at the end of the reign of Amenhotep III (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 213: TTs in Qurna dating between Amenhotep III and the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 214: TTs in Qurna at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 215: TTs in Qurna dating to the Nineteenth Dynasty prior to Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 216: TTs in Qurna dating to the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 217: TTs in Qurna at the end of the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 218: TTs in Qurna at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 219: Qurna TTs datable only to the Ramesside Period (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 220: TTs in Qurna datable to the Twentieth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 221: TTs in Qurna at the end of the New Kingdom in relation to royal mortuary temples (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 222: Location of Upper Qurna within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 223: Landscape of Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 224: TTs of Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 225: Upper Qurna tombs cut into the cliffs, with Deir el-Bahri in the distance (Author’s own) Figure 226: TTs of Priests in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 227: The courtyard of TT97 (Author’s own) Figure 228: TTs of the Temple Administration in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 229: TTs of the Royal Administration in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 230: TTs of the General Administration in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 231: TTs of the Local Administration in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 232: TTs of the Military in Upper Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 233: Reused TTs in Upper Qurna at the end of the New Kingdom (shown by date of first reuse) (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 234: The façade of TT65 (Author’s own) Figure 235: Upper Qurna showing location of outlying TT103 (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 236: The Qurna mortuary temple of Tuthmosis III (Author’s own) Figure 237: The ‘Amenhotep II Quarter’ in the south-western corner of Upper Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 238: View from south-western corner of Upper Qurna outside TT96 looking north-east - indicating approximate location of Henketankh (Author’s own) Figure 239: View from the ‘Amenhotep II Quarter’ overlooking the Amenhotep II temple (Author’s own) Figure 240: View from the Amenhotep II temple of the ‘Amenhotep II Quarter’ in Upper Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 241: View from south-western corner of Upper Qurna indicating the Amenhotep III temple (Author’s own) Figure 242: The northern cliff-face of Upper Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 243: Location of Lower Qurna within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 244: Landscape of Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 245: TTs in Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 246: TTs of Priests in Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 247: TTs of the Temple Administration in Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 248: TTs of the Royal Administration of Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 249: TTs of the General Administration of Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 250: TT123 and TT55 in close proximity (Author’s own) Figure 251: TTs of the Local Administration in Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 252: TT of the Military in Lower Qurna (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 253: Plan of shared courtyard of TT57 and TT102 (Kampp 1996: Figure 156 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 254: Shared courtyard of TT57 and TT102 (Author’s own) Figure 255: Plan of shared courtyard of TT55 and TT331 (Kampp 1996: Figure 153 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 256: Shared courtyard of TT331 and TT55 (Author’s own) Figure 257: Plan of shared courtyard of TT53, TT134 and TT135 (Kampp 1996: Figure 151 - Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 258: Plan of shared courtyard of TT346 and TT403 (Kampp 1996: Figure 476 –Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 259: Shared courtyard of TT125 and TT263 (Kampp 1996: Figure 307 - Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 260: Plan of shared courtyard of TT30, TT50, TT51 and TT111 (Kampp 1996: Figure 121 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 261: View from above of shared courtyard of TT30, TT50, TT51 and TT111 (Author’s own) Figure 262: Plan of shared courtyard of TT138 and TT259 (Kampp 1996: Figure 316 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 263: Reused TTs in Lower Qurna at the end of the New Kingdom, shown by date of reuse (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 264: View north across Lower Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 265: View north-west from the Ramesseum, towards Qurna (Author’s own) Figure 266: View south-west from the Ramesseum showing space behind (Author’s own) Figure 267: Location of Qurnet Murai within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 268: Landscape of Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 269: TTs in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 270: TTs at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 271: TTs at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 272: TTs of Priests in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 273: TTs of the Temple Administration in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 274: TTs of the Royal Administration in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 275: TTs of the General Administration in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 276: TTs of the Local Administration in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 277: TT of the Military in Qurnet Murai (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 278: Plan of TT278 and TT277 (Kampp 1996: Figure 444 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 279: Shared courtyard of TT277 and TT278 (Author’s own) Figure 280: TT272 and TT273 (Kampp 1996: Figure 441 – Courtesy of Professor Seyfried) Figure 281: Reused TTs in Qurnet Murai at the end of the New Kingdom, shown by date of reuse (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 282: The entrance of TT40 (Author’s own) Figure 283: View looking west towards Qurnet Murai (Author’s own) Figure 284: View east from Qurnet Murai to the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III (Author’s own) Figure 285: View south from TT40 towards Medinet Habu (Author’s own) Figure 286: View north to the Ramesseum from TT221 (Author’s own) Figure 287: Zoomed in view north to the Ramesseum from TT221 (Author’s own) Figure 288: Location of Deir el-Medina within the Theban Necropolis (Author’s own) Figure 289: Landscape of Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 290: TTs of Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 291: Plan of Deir el-Medina, showing the cemetery to the west of the village (Dodson and Ikram, 2008: 334 – Courtesy of Professor Aidan Dodson) Figure 292: TTs in Deir el-Medina at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 293: TTs in Deir el-Medina dated to the reign of Seti I/Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 294: TTs in Deir el-Medina at the end of the reign of Ramesses II (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 295: TTs in Deir el-Medina dated between Merenptah and the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 296: TTs in Deir el-Medina at the end of the Nineteenth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 297: TTs datable only to the Ramesside Period (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 298: TTs in Deir el-Medina dating to the Twentieth Dynasty (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 299: TTs in Deir el-Medina at the end of the New Kingdom (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 300: View from the entrance to the village, looking west towards the cemetery (Author’s own) Figure 301: View across the upper slopes, looking north-west (Author’s own) Figure 302: View across the lower slopes, looking north towards the temple (Author’s own) Figure 303: TTs in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 304: TTs of the ‘Servants of the Place of Truth’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 305: TTs of the ‘Senior Workmen’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 306: Baki’s family group (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 307: Kaha’s family group (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 308: TTs of the ‘Scribes’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 309: TTs of the ‘Sculptors’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 310: Tombs of the ‘Guardians’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 311: TTs of the ‘Outline-draughtsmen’ in Deir el-Medina (Author’s own using QGIS) Figure 312: Plan of Deir el-Medina showing the location of TT218-TT220 (Dodson and Ikram 2008: 334 - Courtesy of Professor Aidan Dodson) Figure 313: Shared entrance of TT218, TT219 and TT220 (Author’s own) Figure 314: View from the shared entrance of TT218, TT219 and TT220 (Author’s own) Figure 315: View of the upper slopes of the Deir el-Medina cemetery looking south-west from behind the Ramesseum (Author’s own) Figure 316: Zoomed-in view of the upper slopes of the Deir el-Medina cemetery looking south-west from behind the Ramesseum (Author’s own) Figure 317: View of the hill to the east of Deir el-Medina (Author’s own) Figure 318: Berlin Trauer Relief (Courtesy of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) Figure 319: Relevant section of the Berlin Trauer Relief (Courtesy of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin) Figure 320: Satellite view of Viziers’ tombs (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 321: Viziers’ TTs in Qurna with a 100m (Author’s own using Google Earth) Figure 322: View of TT Tomb Families investigates the apparently random distribution of New Kingdom private tombs in the Theban Necropolis by focusing on factors which may have influenced tomb location. The Theban Necropolis contains hundreds of tombs belonging to elite individuals, dating from the end of the Old Kingdom through to the Ptolemaic Period, with the vast majority dating to the New Kingdom (c.1550-1077 BC). These tombs are scattered across the landscape at the edge of the desert between the Valley of the Kings to the west, and the row of royal mortuary temples along the edge of the cultivation to the east. GPS surveying has enabled the spatial analysis of these tombs, demonstrating that specific areas of the necropolis were popular at different times and among particular groups of people. Clusters and patterns can be identified between tombs built during the same reign(s), as well as between tomb owners with similar titles and familial connections. The orientation of specific tombs towards Karnak temple, royal mortuary temples and festival processional routes reveals their significance to certain individuals. This research provides a deeper understanding of the necropolis, and how private tombs linked to the wider sacred landscape of Thebes. About the Author Katherine Slinger was awarded her PhD in Egyptology in 2020 from the University of Liverpool for her research into the non-royal Theban Necropolis. She graduated with a first-class degree in Egyptology in 2014, and a Master’s degree with Distinction in Egyptology in 2015, both from the University of Liverpool. She is also a qualified primary school teacher. Katherine has taught Egyptian Archaeology at the University of Sheffield and Durham University, and currently works as an Egyptology tutor in the Continuing Education department at the University of Liverpool. She is also an independent researcher and freelance lecturer.