The Pyramid Complex of Sekhemkhet
Sekhemkhet (Powerful in Body) was the successor of Djoser in the 3rd Dynasty. He had a short reign, only 6 years, according to the Turin King-list. His funerary complex, wich was found as late as in the 1950´s, to the immediate southwest of the Djoser Complex, was never finished. Had it been, it would probably have been at least as big as the Djoser Complex. It is simpler than Djoser´s but there is an enclosure wall, a step pyramid and a south tomb. On the north side of it the name of Imhotep is mentioned, perhaps he was the architect of this complex too. On this side was also a rock-cut trench which led down to an entrance and a sealed doorway. Once the passage was cleared of rubble and debris, there was found a cache with 21 bracelets and armlets of gold, a hollow tube of gold and a very fine small gold box. All of it was probably in a wooden container which since has disappeared. After clearing the passage, a large burial room was encountered. It was unfinished but in the middle was an alabaster sarcophagus, which was sealed and never used. When it was opened three years later, much to the astonishment of the present scholars, it was empty. The tomb showed no traces of having been robbed so it is believed that the king must have been buried elsewhere. There are many passages still to be examined.

Not much more is known about Sekhemkhet except for a relief in Sinai, Wadi Maghara, which depicts him three times; one with the Red Crown, another with the White Crown and the third one shows him with raised mace, ready to smite an enemy. Showing the king smiting enemies was a usual scene which had begun already in the 1st Dynasty and this is one in a long row so we cannot deduct anything special from it.

The Great Enclosure
To the west of the Complex of Sekhemkhet is another rectangular structure, some 600 x 300 m, called The Great Eclosure, or Gisr el-Mudir. This is a mysterious structure as it is a complete rectangle with no trace of a tomb or pyramid inside. For some time it was believed that this was a burial complex for another 3rd Dynasty king. Now the theory is that it resembles Shunet ez-Zebib at Abydos, which belonged to KhaseKhemwi, last ruler of the 2nd Dynasty. There are more such structures at Abydos and they are thought to be a copy of the king´s palace, meant for him to use in the Afterlife. It that is true, and if they do resemble the enclosure at Saqqara, then we land in the 2nd Dynasty there too, and the Great Enclosure might be the oldest structure built in stone.


Sources:
Early Dynastic Egypt - Toby A. Wilkinson
Royal Tombs from the Pyramid Period, article in Ägypten Die Welt Der Pharaonen by Rainer Stadelmann
The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt - Richard H. Wilkinson
Cultural Atlas of Ancient Egypt - John Baines & Jaromir Malek