Modern name for the area south of Saqqara where several royal tombs from Dynasty 4, Dynasty 12, and Dynasty 13 are located. Two pyramids, the Bent and the Red, are assigned to Snefru and were the first built as true pyramids from the start. The pyramids of Amenemhat II, Senusret III, andAmenemhat IIIare also located here, as well as the tombs of queens and princesses from which much fine jewelry has been excavated. The tomb of King Hor of Dynasty 13 has also been discovered. The area was excavated by the French from 1894–1895; the Egyptians under Ahmad Fakhry from 1951–1955; and the German Archaeological Institute, later taken over by the Metropolitan Museum of Art beginning in 1980, a Japanese expedition since 1996, and a German expedition from Berlin since 1997.
Historical Dictionary Of Ancient Egypt by Morris L. Bierbrier
Ancient Egypt. A Reference Guide. EdwART. 2011.