The burial of sons within their father's mastaba at Saqqara: shortage of space or filial affection?

Two unusual features became apparent during my fifteen years of work in the Teti cemetery at Saqqara. The first was the restrictions in area imposed by the presence of nearby earlier cemeteries and the second was the number of individuals who established their chapels within already existing mastabas. Among these are Khentika/Ikhekhi in the mastaba of his similarly named vizier, Ishfi/Tutu in the mastaba of Ankhmahor, Noferseshemptah/ Sheshi in the mastaba of his similarly named official, Meryteti in Mereruka’s mastaba, and we may add the offering room of Meryreankh within Mehu’s chapel in the Wenis cemetery. The present article discusses the contested relationship/ kinship of these individuals to the original owners of the mastabas, the likely date of this phenomenon, and the possible reasons for such a departure from tradition