Memphis and its necropolis: from mastaba to pyramid

The explanations distinguish finds, interpretations and open questions. Sources appear at the end of the page.

Two dated stages

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre page "Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur" states that Memphis is "traditionally believed to have been founded in 3000 BC as the capital of a politically unified Egypt", and that it "served as the effective administrative capital of the country during the Old Kingdom". According to the same page, its fame comes from its being "the first Capital of Ancient Egypt", and it was the seat of royal power for over eight dynasties. These are the two dated stages the source gives for the city: a founding that tradition places in 3000 BC, that is, in the site's Early Dynastic period (about 3100-2649 BCE), and its role as capital in the Old Kingdom. Because of both, and not because of the city's long existence, the article is placed in the two periods. Source 1.

From mastaba to pyramid

According to UNESCO, the property contains "the first complex monumental stone buildings in Egyptian history", as well as evidence of the development of the royal tombs "from the early shape called mastaba" until it reaches the pyramid shape. The Pyramid Complex of Saqqara, it says, contains the first monumental stone building ever constructed, and the limestone step pyramid of Djoser is "the oldest pyramid to be constructed". The archaic necropolis at Saqqara, it says, dates back "to formation of Pharaonic civilization". "First" and "oldest" are UNESCO's claims. Source 1.

Where this sits on the timeline

The English text of the UNESCO page does not date the mastaba or Djoser's pyramid by period or year. The Met's timeline places "the pyramids of Giza and Saqqara" in the Old Kingdom, about 2649-2150 BCE. The end point of the development, the pyramid, therefore lies in the Old Kingdom according to the Met; the "early" shape, the mastaba, is not dated in the sources read, and the article does not assign it to a period. Sources 1, 2.

More than nine thousand tombs

According to UNESCO, the property has more than nine thousand rock-cut tombs, from different historic periods, ranging from the First to the Thirtieth Dynasty and extending to the Graeco-Roman Period, and more than thirty-eight pyramids, including the three pyramids of Giza, the pyramids of Abusir, Saqqara and Dahshur, and the Great Sphinx. That range shows a long use of the necropolis, but a long existence alone is not a dated stage: the article is therefore not placed in the later periods, although the tombs run to the Thirtieth Dynasty. Source 1.

Scope of reading: the UNESCO World Heritage Centre page "Memphis and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur" (English text) and the Met's timeline page for Egypt, 8000-2000 BCE, were read on 24 October 2026. The excavation reports of Memphis and Saqqara were not read, so this page gives no plans, measurements or dates of particular tombs.