8/3/2019 1st essay for module Methods of Archaeology

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Giza Necropolis and Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie

Also called Pyramid of Khufu or Pyramid of Cheops, was built in period of 20 years sometimearound 2560 BC. It is believed by Egyptologist that pyramid was supposed to be tomb forPharaoh Khufu from 4 th dynasty. With height 146.5 meters it was highest man made structure

for more than three thousand years. Inside of pyramid in Kings Chamber is made of hugegranite blocks with weight 25 80 tons. Rest of the pyramid is made of limestone blockscarefully stacked up in various patterns what caused stones to interlock and hold together withsome use of mortar. Thanks to this system builders were able to construct corridors, halls andshafts by using different pattern. Upon its completion surface of the pyramid was covered byadditional layer of casing. Casing stone also known as Tura stone. It is white limestone quarriedin Tura, city on the other side of Nile southeast from Giza. Tura stone had high value forEgyptians because of its softness thus it was easier to work with. Only few other pyramids andmonuments were build using this particular stones. Unfortunately, almost all remaining casingstone had been removed from surface of pyramid and used for building mosques by Arabs. Thisalso applies to other two pyramids at site of Giza plateau . Both Khafres and Menkaurespyramid was once covered by Tura stone but they met same fate as Khufus pyramid and allcasing stone was stolen and used for building houses.

Pyramids alongside with sphinx represent Egyptians as great nation with technology to buildgreat monuments using just simple tools. After years of excavations and research done aboutpyramids and sphinx there is lots of unknown and they are clouded in mystery. The Djedi Teamis currently working inside the Khufus pyramid in Queens chamber and they are trying touncover mystery about two shafts leading from chamber towards the surface. First attempt to dothis happened in year 1992 and then in 1993 by team called The Upuaut Project lead by RudolfGantenbrink. This campaign sent mobile robot through one of the shafts and they found blocksealing shaft so they were unable to continue. Now the Djedi team continue in their work with

help from France company Dassault which assembled robot and whole team is composed frominternational Egyptologist from England, China and Canada and is managed by LeedsUniversity. Project started in 2009 when they did preliminary studies about shafts. Teamcontinued from 2011 and further results are expected in early 2012. Team sent robot throughone of the shaft, robot was armed with core drill and pinhole camera and positioning system todeterminate orientation, second mini robot that can fit into the hole to further explore roombehind the stone. Team discovered unknown marking in sealed room and also in the shaft itself.This team in pursue to uncover mystery behind sealed air shaft used technology, science androbotics which is common in archeology to search in tight places where human cannot fit orplaces too dangerous to explore due to instability or just because it is easier and safer to letrobot do the job first. But this project is ultimate because robot of this kind was never used

before thus this one was constructed especially for this purpose. This server as good examplethat there always is something to explore and to find means on how to do it the best way. Inyear 2011 we still cannot come to verdict what is true purpose of pyramid itself. And why thereare no wal l writings and painting as in other tombs since most Egyptologist consider Khufuspyramid to be tomb.

I would also like to mention Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie pioneer in work he did onKhufus pyramid and lots of other excavations around Egypt. He was pioneer of systematic

8/3/2019 1st essay for module Methods of Archaeology

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