These five tiles are original and authentic, coming from inside the depths of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, at Saqqara - the oldest surviving man-made structure on the planet!!!

The tiles are all intact, with four of the five being inscribed on the reverse with hieroglyphic symbols, as seen. There is no known reason for inscribing the reverse of these tiles, as the glyphs are on the side of the tile inserted into the plaster, thereby concealing the glyphs.

The purpose of these tiles was to create the design of a large, woven mat on the wall inside the structure of the pyramid.

Size: They all measure approximately 58 mm (2.3") X 36 mm (1.4").

Dating: These fine, intact specimens date precisely to the 3rd Dynasty - that of King Djoser (Zoser) circa 2667 - 2648 BC.

For comparables, see:

F.D. Friedman (ed.), Gifts of the Nile: ancient Egy (London, Thames and Hudson, 1998)

R. Parkinson, Cracking codes: the Rosetta St (London, The British Museum Press, 1999)

A.J. Spencer, Catalogue of Egyptian antiqu-4 (London, The British Museum Press, 1980)