what’s new with Nefertiti?

The year 16 graffito is building inscription and a historical record. The inscription was found at Dayr Abu Hinnis which is a quarry used during the Amarna period. Extensive evidence of Amarna talat proves this and the quarry supplied stone for the Temple of the Aten project at Akhetaten. First seen in 2004, the inscription is written on a pillar at the back of the quarry. It is about 8 metres high. The five line hieratic inscription covers the whole pillar (Van der Perre, 2014, 68). The inscription is dated to year 16 of Akhenaten’s reign as clearly indicated by the text. Workmen at the site chiselled the inscription using a broad chisel and then painted in red ochre. (pg 71) The intended audience is probably the workmen as there is some evidence of project construction notes. (Van der Perre, 2012, p197)

Inscriptional evidence reveals the political situation at the time and can now be used to debunk some of the theories that have existed regarding the Amarna political scene.

Regnal year 16, first month of the inundation season, day 15. May the King of Upper and Lower Egypt live, he who lives on Maat, the Lord of the Two Lands Neferkheperure Waenre, (life, prosperity, health!) the Son of Re, who lives on Maat, the Lord of the Crowns Akhenaten, (life, prosperity, health!) whose life span is long, living forever and ever

Here, Akhenaten is still alive and pharaoh in year 16. The general consensus is that he died in Year 17, and this graffito can be used to support that date.

The most significant section of the inscription is:

the King’s Great Wife, his beloved, the lady of the two lands Neferneferuaten‐Nefertiti, living forever and ever. Beloved of Re, the ruler of the two horizons, who rejoices in the horizon in his name of Re

This is clear evidence that in Year 16 Nefertiti was alive and still the queen. In these lines of texts, several theories are debunked.

· Nefertiti dies in yr 14 as a result of a chariot accident – based on KV35YL being her mummy, the damage to the torso is used as evidence for the accident. Schlogl (2012) makes this argument

· Nefertiti was banished and replaced by Meritaten.

· Nefertiti disappeared and re-emerges as a co-regent (Cooney, 2018, 185)

· There was a co-regency in year 16. Some historians suggest that the yr 12 durbar scene in the tomb of Meryre II is evidence for a co-regency (Reeves, 2019, 170)

The significance of the graffito is the ability for historians to be able to precisely date the political situation at the time. The yr 16 graffito places Nefertiti alive in yr 16 and not dead or banished or king.

However, the graffito cannot shed any light on what happened after this date, so its historical value is for year 16 only. But this at least discounts some of the theories surrounding what happened to Nefertiti towards the end of Akhenaten’s reign. There are many theories about the co-regency that can not be answered by this inscription

The text does confirm that Nefertiti’s name was:

the King’s Great Wife, his beloved, the lady of the two lands Neferneferuaten‐Nefertiti,

There are many theories about how her name can be evidence for a co-regency (Samson) and even a sole rule after Akhenaten’s death. But this is beyond the graffito inscription.

(Ref: Van Der Perre, Athena. "The Year 16 Graffito of Akhenaten in Dayr Abu Hinnis. A Contribution to the Study of the Later Years of Nefertiti." Journal of Egyptian History 7.1 (2014): 67-108.)