Nemtinakht Wrote:
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> There is plenty of archaeological evidence which
> supports the existence of ramps.
Again, the problem is one of interpretation.
The evidence says stones were taken to the base of the pyramid which would be an illogical place for ramps to start. Far worse is the evidence itself; no evidence supports the concept that men dragged stones on ramps. Logic dictates they'd use an easy means and ramps would be the hardest possible means. The evidence says they pulled the stone straight up the side. the word "ramp" isn't even attested from the great pyramid building age.
Every sloped surface is not for men to drag stones. The one "ramp" that actually is in evidence at Giza (between the queens pyramids and the mastabas) is exactly where one would need to be to utilize counterweights and doesn't even point toward the pyramid.
What's lacking is any sort of evidence any stone was ever dragged on any ramps by men.
> You also need to bear in mind that only the
> relatively small core of skilled workmen were
> buried at Giza.
No. There is also a "workers cemetery" of mostly unmarked graves but there are such occupations in it as "Overseer of the Boats of Neith" and "Overseer of Sculptors". Meanwhile there isn't a single inscription anywhere consistent with using barbaric/ muscle based systems to move or lift stones. All of the inscriptions depict a rather sophisticated economy and pyramid building. There are titles like "Overseer of the Metal Shop". There is nowhere an overseer of stone draggers or overseer of ramp builders.
Interpretation is wrong.
> The stone draggers and overseers
> of ramps would have been peasant conscripts and
> buried in their local necropolis. These men were
> sent home after their term of service much like
> soldiers in modern conscript armies.
No, overseers were more likely to be nobles or low level functionaries.
If there had been stone draggers then there would be an overseer and there would necessarily be accommodations for the thousands of men required. There would have also been depictions of ramps and a god of ramps. There would be sloped lines on the great pyramids and in the thermal imaging. There would be evidence rather than interpretation. The word "ramp" would be attested. They'd have icons depicting ramps and their gods.
The cultural context does not support ramps.
This thread is really more about what's under the Great Pyramid. Or for the purists, what's between the ground under the pyramid and the pyramid. All we know with certainty is that there is a passage heading straight in south of the NE corner. What does this passage lead to other than proof that ramps were never used on any great pyramid?
Perhaps you know some other reason the powers that be refuse to release basic data or gather it. I'm merely GUESSING that they aren't releasing this specific data because they know it's inconsistent with ramps. Perhaps it's inconsistent with the pyramid being a tomb or its builders superstitious. They have said no data will be released that is inconsistent with the paradigm. No data is being released from tests that are known to have finally been completed with century old technology so it's easy to leap to the conclusion that it is inconsistent with current beliefs. What did they find under the Great Pyramid???
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Man fears the pyramid, time fears man.
