Fragmentary hieratic papyri, mounted in one frame. E) Two fragments of perhaps the same letter, with two and three columns in black on recto; verso of both blank; torn, one shredded at edges, with insect holes. The letter is about replacing a member of a work crew; unfortunately, no information is provided as to why he needed to be replaced. The work-crews, usually comprised of around ten men, with an overseer in charge of each one. The one mentioned in this text was named “Gang No. 5”. Although this letter is from the Middle Kingdom, reasons for absence from the New Kingdom include, sickness, hangovers, arrest and arguments with wives.
Text has been tranaslated as:
'[.......let] you know that I have petitioned the overseer of Gang No. 5 Aa-hetep [......]
[..........] replacement. However [.................] saying [........] should be replaced [........]'