A Reassessment of Heit el-Ghurab and Wadi al-Jarf Labor Organization, Logistics, and the Semantic Scope of "Ꜣḫt Ḫwfw" in the Old Kingdom

This paper presents a critical reassessment of the archaeological, logistical, and linguistic evidence associated with Het el-Ghurab and Wadi al-Jarf in the context of Khufu’s funerary complex. Drawing on tomb inscriptions, dietary remains, administrative records, and the linguistic analysis of the term Ꜣḫt Ḫwfw, the study challenges traditional interpretations that depict Het el-Ghurab as a large-scale labor camp for pyramid construction. Instead, it demonstrates that Het el-Ghurab functioned as a small, stable administrative and ritual community, responsible for supervision, maintenance, and ceremonial activities within the funerary complex.The paper further clarifies that Ꜣḫt Ḫwfw refers to a ritual–cosmic domain encompassing the entire funerary complex rather than the pyramid itself, emphasizing the symbolic and operational aspects of the site. By integrating archaeological, logistical, and linguistic data, the study provides a more nuanced understanding of labor organization, social structure, and the ritual landscape of Old Kingdom Egypt.Keywords: Het el-Ghurab, Wadi al-Jarf, Khufu, funerary complex, pyramid construction, Egyptian archaeology, administrative and ritual function, Ꜣḫt Ḫwfw