Anthony Wrote:
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> The Radiocarbon Dating Project published by Mark
> Lehner leaves absolutely no doubt about the dating
> of Khufu's pyramid to the Fourth Dynasty. The
> only range we find in the datings is attributable
> to the use of "old wood" in various places, and
> that "old wood" is no more than a few hundred
> years off.
>
> You will find a summary of the report here:
>
> Lehner's write up is here:
>
>
> You have also erred in your representation that
> the only thing linking Khufu to the pyramid is a
> single reference. There are multiple references
> in the tombs surrounding the pyramid that make it
> quite clear the pyramid and temples belonged to
> Khufu. There is, of course, the inscription
> inside the pyramid itself (in the relieving
> chamber) that clearly states the pyramid workers
> were working on a project for Khnum-Khuf/Khufu,
> and we have a similar inscription dating to
> Dynasty IV in the Sinai that credit Khnum-Khuf for
> excavations there. The script is unmistakably
> Dynasty IV in nature, and the location secures the
> provenance in a way that cannot leave doubt.
>
> Two thousand years after Khufu, the pyramid was
> still being solidly attributed to him by the
> priests that were on site and could read the
> inscriptions on the walls. In fact, this
> particular textual reference is the first one we
> find in modern records, but is entirely and
> unerringly supported by the other evidence I have
> quoted above.


It's been getting easier to believe that you're correct on this. Some of the dating appears to be pretty definite so it's quite likely accurate.

But it's also possible that the specific utterance is not for Min or that Min did raise a pyramid on this spot (or nearby) and Khufu built later. There are a lot of the utterances from around #280 to #350 (as well as many others scattered) that seem to make a lot more sense if seen in this light. Look especially at #'s 254, 301, 302, 311, 219 and 246.

>
> In all, there is no room for any other attribution
> of the pyramid. It was built in its entirety by
> King Khufu during the Fourth Dynasty for his use
> as an edifice for holding his mummy for
> (hopefully) all eternity. There is a mountain of
> evidence larger than the pyramid itself that you
> would have to overcome if you ever wanted to rip
> his achievement away from him.
>
> Anthony


There is a growing mound of evidence that they had water on Giza. Certainly it might well have been imported or lifted by shaduf but they apparently had bathes of sufficient size and complexity that their overseer warranted a mastaba on the plateau. There was a pyramid town for at least as long as it took to build the pyramids.

We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that in all probability Khufu was a mere man like the rest of us. He might not have lifted a single one of the two and a half million stones. He may not have even had a large role in the organization of the job. The achievement was really one for the (perhaps) 100,000 men individually and collectively. It was an achievement as well, for the multitude who contributed by maintaining order and culture during the construction. It was an achievment for the entire society and whether or not Khufu deserves a disproportionate share is hardly a given. It is probable, just not a given. Be this all as it may, Khufu building a pyramid here at the time generally accepted does not impinge that greatly on the means with which it was built.

If the water was actually saturated with carbon dioxide it would probably have taken centuries for it to reach Giza and nearly as many centuries to dissipate.

Yes, the argument is built on a great deal of supposition so when any part fails it weakens the whole thing.

It should be noted that there may be no authorities on the behavior of carbon dioxide under these conditions. I might be able to get some clues from the reports of oil drillers in the region but so far these reports have proven elusive. There is quite possibly no similar geology anywhere on the planet and, certainly nothing of the sort exists today. There are cold water geysers in Utah and a few other places. These can spray very large quantities of water and can be nearly continuous. All known such geysers are man-made so this was likely true 5,000 years ago as well. Carbonic acid is formed in these so large quantities of limestone are dissolved. This comes out of solution with the carbon dioxide and normally precipitates out to form a stone similar to travertine or stalagmites. While travertine itself is normally considered a poor building material it should not be impossible for this accumulated stone to be strong enough for building.

It might well be relatively easy to cut, in layers of equal but varying thicknesses, and available in quantity.

In the event it wasn't mentioned in the first post, "Isis" means "stone seat".







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Man fears the pyramid, time fears man.