Preliminary remarks on enigmatic "white casing limestone" from Saqqara archaeological site in Egypt

Saqqara is one of the famous archaeological sites in the world. There is the oldest stone pyramid built by pharaoh Djoser from the Third Dynasty (around 4600 yrs BP). The components of his funerary complex were constructed of a characteristic creamish-white limestone of relatively great solidity, connected in archaeological literature with the white casing limestone from Saqqara. A source of this stone has remained so far a mystery. An extensive geological survey and other research has failed to identify any outcrops of such limestone in the vicinity of Saqqara. Preliminary results of examination of fossils from relevant rock samples of the white Saqqara limestone are presented, supplemented with discussion of current opinions concerning its origin and probable stratigraphic setting.