Editing Shepseskaf (section)

===Location===
[[File:Mastaba-faraoun-3.jpg|thumb|right|alt=a large rectangular structure of yellow mudbricks in the desert|[[Mastabat al-Fir’aun]], Saqqara<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->]]

Shepseskaf's decision to be buried in South Saqqara represents a departure from the Giza necropolis used by his predecessors. The reason for this choice is debated. Verner remarks that this choice had political symbolism{{sfn|Verner|2001a|p=384}} as it allowed Shepseskaf a greater proximity to the dynasty founder Sneferu's [[Red Pyramid|red]] and [[Bent Pyramid|bent]] pyramids in Dahshur, possibly emphasising his belonging to the dynastic line.{{sfn|Baker|2008|p=426}} For Bárta, Shepseskaf simply decided to come back to the traditional burial grounds of Saqqara and [[Abusir]], a choice that therefore does not need to be seen as a sign of religious conflicts within the royal family,{{sfn|Bárta|2016|p=59}} as had been proposed by Hassan.{{sfn|Hassan|1943|pp=63–67}}

However, the main reason might have been economic or practical rather than political or religious.{{sfn|Verner|2001b|p=89}} There was simply not enough space left in Giza for another large pyramid complex,{{sfn|Baker|2008|p=426}} and the proximity of limestone quarries to South Saqqara could have played a role.{{sfn|Verner|Zemina|1994|p=24}} Egyptologist [[Adolf Erman]] instead conjectures that the choice of location for a pharaoh's tomb was mostly dictated by the vicinity of his palace which could change owing to economic, political and military interests.{{sfn|Verner|Zemina|1994|p=26}} This remains unverified as no palace of an Old Kingdom king has been located so far,{{sfn|Verner|Zemina|1994|p=26}}{{sfn|Verner|2010|p=91}} and it may be instead that it was the centre of the administration and royal house which followed the funerary complex rather than the other way around.{{sfn|Lehner|2002|pp=34 & 61}}