AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCE

THAT THE PYRAMID TEXTS HAD UPON DYNASTY SIX TOMB DECORATIONS.

In an ecological context, a disruption or change to an environment is usually associated with

some external influence impacting upon that environment (Krebs 2001, 32-39). Changes to the
distribution and abundance of organisms within an environment usually suggest the influence of a
new stimulus upon that environment. Identifying these changes allows the disturbance to be
traced back, both in time and space. The further from a disruption in time and distance, the
longer this disturbance takes to manifest itself; and the likelihood that it is observable decreases
(Krebs 2001, 485-510).1 With this perspective in mind, it was determined to test the notion that a
direct relationship exists between the appearance of the Pyramid Texts and Dynasty Six tomb
decorations. If the ecological analogy outlined above were to be applied to the Pyramid Texts,
then it would be logical to assume that the distribution of decorations within tombs would be
different before and after the appearance of the Pyramid Texts.

In order to trace the potential change in distribution, a number or marker scenes were selected.
Some decorations did not appear to change position over the time frame in question so were
inappropriate choices, whereas the positioning of some decorations appeared more fluid (Harper
1987, 59). The positioning of slaughtering scenes did vary over the time frame in question, as
did the depiction of the owner active in the marshlands. Slaughtering scenes are examples of
decorations implying ritual and sacrifice. Marshland scenes depicting the owner are examples of
decorations implying regeneration, creativity and invigoration.

By Dynasty Six, the depiction of marsh scenes became concentrated in the outer rooms and the
placement of the butchery scenes became concentrated within the offering room (Harper 1987,
32, 82, 176-204).2 The goal of the investigation was to determine when this change took place.
If this time could be determined, then a discrete stimulus may be suggested. If the distribution
changed as a result of the influence of the Pyramid Texts, then the positioning of the marker
scenes should be different before and after the time of their inception. According to the
Allen/Vischak hypothesis, from after the time of Unis, owner marshland scenes and scenes

1

For a more detailed introduction to Ecological theory and the measurement of Distribution and Abundance of
components within environments see for example C. J. Krebs, Ecology: The Experimental Analysis of
Distribution and Abundance (San Francisco, 2001).
2
Ikram (1995, 297-303; table 1) describes the arrangement of butchery scenes during this era, while Harpur (1977,
82) outlines the normal Dynasty Six spatial relationship between the false door and the slaughtering cycle.

representing ritualised slaughter should be represented separately to one another. Decorations

depicting slaughtering scenes should be found closer to the false door. Marshland scenes
depicting the owner should be encountered closer to the opening to the tomb.

THE METHOD
To achieve the aims of this study, the distribution of the marker scenes within tombs was
investigated. Tombs were selected from before and after the time of the adoption of the Pyramid
Texts. Tombs were deemed suitable if they contained two or more decorated rooms, or being
deemed large enough to easily divide the decorations into distinct areas.
Each tomb was examined according to the following system.
1. The position of the marker scenes was identified and plotted.
2. The position of the false door and the opening to the tomb were recorded.
3. The distribution of the marker scenes was correlated to their position within the tomb.