The two tombs subject of this volume are of special importance for the study of the transition from the First Intermediate Period to the Middle Kingdom and for the understanding of the history of the Sixteenth Province of Upper Egypt. It is generally accepted that Baqet I and Baqet II were the earliest nomarchs ‘great overlords’ to be buried at Beni Hassan, but their dating is highly disputed, ranging from the Tenth to the Twelfth Dynasties. The exact dating of these tombs is fundamental in answering many questions about this period: Were conditions during the Intermediate Period in this province as stable and rich as to produce such elaborate tombs? Why did such governors bear titles indicating their services to the King of Upper and Lower Egypt? Did Mentuhotep II merely confirm existing and powerful local chiefs as great overlords, or sent men loyal to him from Thebes to govern the newly united provinces? Although the tombs of Baqet I and Baqet II were among the first to be recorded by our expedition, their publication was deliberately postponed for some years, until all other decorated tombs on the mountain have been examined, the development of the Beni Hassan cemetery has been studied and the succession of the nomarchs has been established with reasonable degree of certainty. The recording of each tomb presented different challenges, particularly depending on its state of preservation. The condition of the walls in our two tombs vary considerably, but generally the inner/east walls are much better preserved than the west walls, which are close to the façade and entrance. Scenes on the west walls of both tombs have suffered badly from humidity and water penetration, with large sections completely obliterated.