Craftsmen from the Residence: the case of tomb QH36 (Qubbet el-Hawa, Egypt)

QH36 is a tomb located in Qubbet el-Hawa necropolis (Aswan, Egypt). The tomb belonged to Sarenputi I, governor of Elephantine during the reign of Senusret I. This hypogeum, systematically excavated by the Qubbet el-Hawa Project (University of Jaén) since 2017, was built by royal craftsmen, according to epigraphic sources. This is corroborated by the tomb’s architectural features. But new archaeological evidence supporting this claim emerged in 2022, when excavations in the secondary burial chamber of the main shaft uncovered an unusual stone slab pavement with black ink signs. They are identical to those documented in the mastaba of Imhotep at el-Lisht. This article analyzes the assemblage system used by the work gangs of the royal court at these two different locations, which also archaeologically reinforces the epigraphic sources on royal craftsmen from the north during the construction of QH36. Besides, it shows the possible constructive strategies developed.