Excavating the Egyptological Archives of the Università degli Studi di Milano: The Varille documentation on the pyramid complex of Djedkare-Izezi at Saqqara

Between 1944 and 1949, Varille worked as epigraphist at Saqqara for the Antiquities Service. He joined the mission of Abdel Salam Mohammed Hussein on the excavations of the funerary complex of Djedkare-Izezi, but because of the premature death of both archaeologists their results were never published. Some large folders found in the Varille archives, housed in the University of Milan, contain materials that can be useful to understand the way in which the excavations were carried on and some of the objects discovered. This unpublished documentation consists in photographs, cards with notes and photographs, and a short report on the excavations. The aim of the article is to present and analyse these materials, as well as to discuss the role of some of the people who worked with Varille on the site, who are mentioned in his papers.