An Ambitious Design That Failed to Stand
In the late Middle Kingdom of Egypt, around 1860 BC, Pharaoh Amenemhat III commissioned a pyramid unlike any before. Known today as the Black Pyramid for its dark, ruined appearance, it was the first intended to bury both a king and his queens. But the ground it was built on—just 10 meters above sea level—could not support its weight. The structure began sinking before construction was finished.
Mud Bricks and Groundwater
Instead of stone, builders used mud brick, sealed with limestone veneer. They placed the pyramid near the Nile, where groundwater soon seeped in. As pressure from above crushed the substructure, emergency supports were added—but it was too late. The tomb was abandoned.
A Sarcophagus With No King
Amenemhat III was never buried in the pyramid, though his stone sarcophagus still lies underground. Two looted chambers beneath the pyramid held remains of his queens, including Queen Aat, whose canopic jar was left behind.
Forgotten, Then Looted Again
By the 13th Dynasty, locals repurposed the site. In the 20th century, archaeologists uncovered what remained. Looting returned after 2011, threatening what’s left of Egypt’s collapsing royal tomb.
