Incipient forms of the ichnogenera Celliforma, ? Rebuffoichnus, Tombownichnus, Taenidium, Chubutolites and Machichnus and, in addition, complex forms of probable termite galleries, beetle galleries and mammal burrows were found in masonry, plasters and surrounding (both natural and man-made) deposits in the ancient Abusir necropolis. Among the ways of the classification of the material, the use of standard ichnotaxonomic names appeared to be more objective and more correct than mere estimations of possible tracemakers as made colloquially in the past. The realistic classification enables a useful interpretation in such a context through dating (radiometric dating is possible if the tunnels are lined with organic matter), specification of depth of burrowing/bioerosion (some insect structures show a highly specific depth below the substrate surface) and identification of the tracemaker (insect family, genus, species). Having such information, it is possible, e.g., to recognize that the wall of a building was exposed/unburied during certain time interval and that the environment was favourable for the development of the tracemaker (e.g., clover-pollinating solitary bees). Three basic colonization times were recognized: first, 2760 ± 35 B.P. = ca 750 B.C.; second, 645 ± 30 B.P. i.e. ca 1350 A.D.; third, 225 ± 30 B.P., i.e. ca 1775 A.D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]