MJ Thomas Wrote:
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>
>
> While I think of it, aside from the area looking
> every inch as if it was intended to have a cover
> over it (thereby creating in a most practical
> manner a continuous floor from the Ascending
> Passage to the start of the Grand Gallery floor
> proper) what evidence do you have that such a
> cover was ever installed?
>
You have provided the best evidence possible, MJT.
The plug stones wouldn't have fit anywhere else!
Now, if you want to argue against this hypothesis, then you'll have to come up with another explanation for the slots on either side of the QC passage.
Just for clarification's sake, I say that although there was probably a ramp built over the QC entrance passage, this ramp did not have to extend all the way across the passage. It could have been more like a set of supported rails, with a narrow walkway in between to still allow passage to the QC for the masons and priests.
If, as you say, the stones made up 15 out of 22 available feet, that leaves a sizable gap at the bottom (the north wall) and perhaps enough space near the top for someone to slip down into the QC passage. It is also possible that the bottom benches that line the Grand Gallery were, in fact, wide enough at their bottom to accommodate at least one of the plug stones, thus leaving ample room for people to get into the QC passage.
Anthony
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him think.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/14/2007 08:01PM by Anthony.