Morph Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I should add that i meant no funerary debris was
> discovered in the well-shaft, there was obviously
> debris.

Hello Morph,

I guessed that's what you meant.


> It's possible this was dug after the time of Al
> Mamun as an exploratory tunnel for furthur
> passageways or chambers across the lower central
> axis of the great pyramid, as it takes an
> unneccesarily extended route to reach the lower
> passageway, a straight down 'escape shaft' would
> have been far easier to construct.

I'm not at all sure about this idea (though I agree with your point about a 'straight down "escape shaft"').
But this is only because there is no record, AFAIK, of anything like this happening.


> If there was no 'escape shaft', and it doesn't
> look like a planned construct, then that would
> leave no means to release the blocking stones and
> exit the ascending passageway, other than a 'timed
> release' through igniting the restraints and
> leaving before they burnt through and the blocks
> could slide down.

The problems with "it doesn't look like a planned construct" are:

a) the carefully constructed passage and opening to the top of the Well Shaft at the northern end of the Grand Gallery.
It's worth noting that the centre of the Shaft E-W is over or very close to the north-south axis of the Pyramid's base, strongly suggesting forward planning.
See:
[www.egyptarchive.co.uk]
and
[www.egyptarchive.co.uk]
(again with acknowledgement and thanks to Jon B )

b) the stonework immediately above the Grotto (see: [www.egyptarchive.co.uk] )


You write, 'Of course if no burial was intended they [the AP blocks] could have been in-built in situ.'

I don't think that this and a "blocked by the builders" Well Shaft necessarily means that no burial was intended.

What I do think it means is that if Khufu was interred in the upper reaches of his Pyramid (be it in the King's Chamber, the Queen's Chamber, or a yet to be discovered chamber) his mummy and funerary paraphenalia were not taken there via the Ascending Passage or the Well Shaft.

This, naturally, poses the question: how, then, did any of it reach any of these chambers?

MJ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/17/2007 08:59AM by MJ Thomas.