Qila Al-Dabba

Qila Al-Dabba is a large necropolis connected to the settlement at Ain Asil. It is located one km east of Balat on the paved road. The most important features of this necropolis are the large mudbrick mastaba (mastaba after the Arabic for “bench”, referring to the shape of the superstructure) tombs of a number of 6th Dynasty (Old Kingdom) high officials. The large mastabas rise from the ground in layers like the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. They are in various stages of ruin, but all were dressed with limestone and at least one stands for 10 meters (32 feet) high. Three of the mastabas were the final resting place of Old Kingdom governors of the oasis; this is an evidence that Dakhla oasis was not only known by the rulers of the Old Kingdom, but also important enough to have its own governor. Originally, at the entrance of the mastaba was a funerary slab or stele inscribed with the name of the owner of the tomb. Inside were rooms and corridors and burial chambers with barrel vaulted roofs. The necropolis was in use throughout the Pharaonic periods and tomb shafts and shallow graves with infant burials have also been uncovered in excavations on the site (CISS Inventory 2010; Vivian 1990).

Site coordinates: N 25 33 328 E 29 16 486

Price (years 2019-2020): 40 EGP (foreigner), 20 EGP (foreigner student), 10 EGP (Egyptian), 5 EGP (Egyptian student). It comprises also the entrance to the site of Ain Asil.