Jon_B Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's an article in "Sokar" magazine No.9 which
> is a German language journal of Pyramid studies.
> The article deals just with the Well Shaft and has
> lots of nice photos and diagrams. Unfortunately my
> German is non existent so it's a bit of a struggle
> but you might be interested in the "Abstract"
> which prefaces the article:
>
> "The article deals with the function and the
> building history of the extensive constructed
> service shaft between the Grand Gallery and the
> Descending Corridor in the Cheops Pyramid. In the
> first phase of construction the shaft served as
> ventilation of the Subterranean Chamber. After the
> extension to the Grand Gallery the shaft
> apparently served as exit from the Upper Chambers
> after blocking the Ascending Corridor. The result
> of the research of different sections is that the
> shaft wasn't built in one connected construction
> plan." .

Hello Jon,

Thank you for the info.
Would you believe that I was planning in a few more days to post my view that initially the Well Shaft was a ventilation shaft for the men working in the Subterranean Chamber, etc.

My main reason for arguing this was the case is the account of how Caviglia discovered and cleared the shaft.
My main source for this is Peter Tompkin's Secrets of the Great Pyramid, or rather it was until a couple of days ago.
Whilst surfing for info on the Ascending Passage I happened on a PDF of The Life and Correspondence of Henry Salt, Esq. F.R.S &c. His Britannic Majesty's Late Consul General in Egypt by J. J. Halls. 2nd Edition. Vol II. 1834.

Starting at the Adobe Reader's page 87 is Salt's account of Caviglia's exploits at the Great Pyramid.
If this doesn't prove the Well Shaft was at one time a ventilation shaft, then I don't know what will.
Interestingly, Tompkin's account is fairly close to Salt's.

Salt's letters (date around 1818) are absolutely fascinating.
I highly recommend this book to anybody with an interest in Egyptology.

The book can be downloaded from:
[books.google.com]

Regards,

MJ