Anthony writes, 'If, as most people claim, we do not understand what function these shafts serve, then it is very disrespectful to the culture that built them to run robots up into them drilling holes into blocks they put into place for a reason. It's destructive, even if it is just a tiny hole. And to me, it represents a lack of respect. I guess I've just grown very attached to the people and culture that built this monument, and to the reasons they did so.'

By this argument shouldn't we then call an immediate halt to all archaeological excavations throughout the world?
What Anthony is espousing here is utter nonsense.
Specifically, it comes across as: because I know what the purposes of these shafts and the blocks closing off the ones from the QC are, there is no need to examine them further.

Nobody knows what these shafts were for, or why the QC ones are blocked as they are.
Knowing what lies beyond the blocks in the QC will count towards our gaining a little more understanding of the culture that created them - even if there is nothing more than core blocks behind them (which is what I hypothesise is behind them).

Rick and others express concern about the damage this drilling work will cause.
For goodness sake, let's keep this in perspective; we are not talking about dismantling the Pyramid.
A minor drill hole will tell us whether or not there is anything other than core masonry behind the blocks.
Imagine that to everybody's suprise (well, I for one, would be completely stunned!) these two shafts open into chambers containing various items.
What would we have the Egyptologists do?
Ignore them, pretend they are not there?
Try and examine them as non-destructively as modern technology will allow?
Or are we to berate them for drilling the holes in the first place?

Question.
Should Carter and co have walked away after they peered through that tiny hole in the wall/door and saw what lay beyond?
Were they wrong to make that hole in the first place?

If we want to learn about and understand our History, then we must accept that there will be times when destructive acts are necessary to gain such knowledge and understanding.

The only real reason for not wanting holes drilled through these blocks is that it could result in proving some person's pet theory about the shafts completely wrong.
Not, IMO, a particularly good reason to stop a particular archaeological act.

MJ



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/09/2007 07:58AM by MJ Thomas.