Luca Miatello. 2010. Examining the Grand Gallery in the Pyramid of Khufu and its Features. PalArch’s Journal of Archaeology of Egypt/Egyptology, 7(6) (2010)
Abstract
The explanation of the symmetrical features on the west and east sides of the grand gallery in the pyramid of Khufu has always been an intricate puzzle for researchers. The existence of such peculiar features is generally related to the function of parking the granite plugs, but only three or four granite blocks were presumably used to plug the ascending corridor, while a much larger number of slots and niches are found in the gallery. Previous investigations of niches, slots, cutting and grooves are unsatisfactory, and the present investigation focuses on important, formerly neglected aspects. The analysis of numerical patterns in the design of the grand gallery provides crucial evidence, and a new interpretation of the features in the gallery is, therefore, proposed, by considering the numerous variables implied in the problem.
5 comments:
Since none of these palace facade pieces were found in the grand gallery, does the author assume Khufu died before even one of them could be installed? They would not seem valuable enough to break up and steal piece by piece through the robber passages. But the article presents a well thought out hypothesis to explain the grand gallery features.
We do not know how large the robber passages were. Probably, as indicated by Maragioglio & Rinaldi and others, the pyramid was violated by pypassing the plug blocks. See also endnote 60 of the article in question.
We do not know how large the robber passages were. Probably as indicated by Maragioglio & Rinaldi and others, the pyramid was violated from the plug blocks. See also endnote 60 of the article in question.
Good quality slab stones could be valuable enough for robbers. Several tombs at Giza were plundered of false doors, lintels, etc. Some of them still lie on the
ground outside the tombs (see for example Seshathetep's tomb). They were simply removed and then abandoned, apparently without a reason.
I would add that the pyramid was plundered of stones also in the centuries after Al-Mamun (casing stones and any other transportable stone), and we do not know how the grand gallery was like when Al-Mamun entered.
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