Pyramid Builders Research Articles

The pyramid builders' waterways: Reconstructing the ancient topography of Khufu’s Pharaonic Harbour at Giza, Egypt

This article describes the location and sedimentary environments of the Khufu harbour in Giza, Egypt, with the aim of reconstructing its palaeoenvironmental evolution during the Old Kingdom (2686–2160 BCE). We use chronostratigraphy and sedimentology to elucidate the site’s Holocene sedimentary units and compare and contrast the results with previous studies. Our research provides new insights into the palaeogeography of the Giza floodplain during the 4th Dynasty (2613–2494 BCE), including its impacts on the settlement patterns and cultural practices of the ancient Egyptians and their interactions with the natural environment. The findings provide valuable information for understanding the history and archaeology of the Giza area and contribute to ongoing efforts to preserve and interpret the cultural heritage of ancient Egypt.

Feeding the pyramid builders: Early agriculture at Giza in Egypt

While the exact technical processes employed in the construction of the pyramids are still a subject of ongoing debate, it is widely recognized that the Giza Plateau served as a hub where various trades converged with the common objective of building the necropolis. Of particular importance was the development of a local and sustainable food supply for the thousands of laborers involved in this monumental undertaking. Here, we explore the long-term behavioural mechanisms that led human societies to gradually colonize the Nile swamps at Giza. They developed herding and farming, paving the way for greater human exploitation of the area during the Dynastic Egypt. We show that transhumance tribes, originally from the Eastern Sahara, settled along the Giza Plateau 5200 years ago, primarily engaging in herding and, more sporadically, agriculture. Giza was transformed into a pastoral landscape, with the development of large swaths of the floodplain, providing societies with permanent access to livestock produce (e.g. proteins, milk, meat and wool). Our palaeoecological data reveal that the initial complex societies at Giza were deeply rooted in transhumance, pastoralism and animal husbandry. These activities played a fundamental role in establishing the foundations of a robust and sustainable food system, while also serving as a crucial logistical support for the subsequent construction of the monumental structures that celebrated the grandeur of pharaonic Egypt.

Ancient Nile Tributary May Have Aided Pyramid Construction

Pollen from sediment cores shows that a now dry channel cutting through Giza was once a flowing waterway that Egyptian pyramid builders could have used to transport supplies.

Appropriation and Its Consequences: Archaeology under Colonial Rule in Egypt and India

Abstract The beginnings of archaeology in Egypt and in India are the subject of this paper. In both countries, antiquities were carried away by the powerful. Moreover, the hubris of the colonial powers ruling both countries made it inevitable that not only antiquities, but knowledge about the past, were appropriated in different ways. For modern Egyptians, the Pharaonic past was remote in culture and distant in time. The people themselves were until fairly recently prevented from learning the Pharaonic writing, once it was deciphered, by various ways and means. In contrast, in India the colonial administration relied on Indian scholars to teach British personnel the ancient languages, texts, and religion. In neither country was the history of the ancient period taught in schools until the foreign rulers had left. But Indian archaeology became involved in Indian identity and in the framing of the nation as Hindu, and thereby acquired an ugly twist. Self-identification in Egypt in the earlier twentieth century, on the other hand, was possibly more with the Arab world than with the pyramid builders.

Lifting Work and Building Time at the 4th Dynasty Pyramids

"Earlier studies about how long it took to build the great stone pyramids focused on the cubic amounts of masonry which is not an adequate parameter for determining the achievement of pyramid builders. Rather, the appropriate parameter is lifting work measured in Joules – in brief, the product of mass multiplied by lifting height. Provided lifting of a block took on average the same time at the 4th dynasty pyramid construction sites, then there was a proportion between lifting work and building time. The upper limits of the resulting building times depend on the length of Kheops’s reign."

Entheseal changes in ancient Egyptians from the pyramid builders of Giza—Old Kingdom

AbstractEntheseal changes are distinct skeletal markings that occur where a muscle, tendon, or ligament inserts into bone cortex, in response to many factors including physical activity. Therefore, entheseal changes have been frequently used to reconstruct habitual life activities of ancient populations. The present study examines a sample of 195 ancient Egyptians from Giza—Old Kingdom (2700–2190 BC), the period of pyramid builders. The material consists of two burials that were identified as belonging to individuals of different socio‐economic classes: workers and high officials. This distinction between the socio‐economic classes is based on evidence including location and design of cemeteries, contents of goods, and writings and drawings on tombs. Entheseal changes at 14 sites, representing the main articulations of the body, were examined to assess any association between entheseal expression and physical activities. The results of this study suggest that the frequency and severity of entheseal changes varied between workers and high officials, and between males and females. As expected, males exhibited higher levels of entheseal expression, suggesting sexual dimorphism in activity. No clear bilateral asymmetry was observed, except for in female high officials, who exhibited higher levels of entheseal expression at the right hand. A direct comparison of frequencies of entheseal changes between the two social classes, by sex and age, revealed that male and female workers had higher levels of entheseal expression than high officials, suggesting a division in labour. Together, these data suggest that entheseal changes can be used, cautiously, to study activity patterns in ancient Egyptian populations.

100% Credit to the Egyptian Pyramid Builders

“Dear Mr. Egyptian Pyramid Engineer…you have now been cleared of using silly Outer Space Aliens and given single handed, full credit for the world’s greatest engineering and construction accomplishment”.

Provisions for the pyramid builders: new evidence from the ancient site of Giza

The great pyramids of Giza are famous emblems of ancient Egyptian civilization, but until recently little was known about where and how the pyramid builders lived. The site of their large settlement has now been found, and excavation is revealing its complex layout and providing evidence of the plants and animals on which the builders depended for their food supply.

Shape shifting lizard people, Israelite slaves, and other theories of pyramid building

At the turn of the millennium, Egypt prepared for a vast New Year celebration on the Giza Plateau, amidst rumors about the Masonic symbolism of the planned party. At the same time, Egyptologists were excavating the tombs of the pyramid builders of Giza and billing these as proof that the pyramids were built by Egyptian nationals, not Israelite slaves. Both were topics of fierce local political debate about the external appropriation of Egypt's national monuments. Based on ethnographic research in Giza and Cairo and analysis of popular publications by and about Egyptologists, this article explores the links between Egyptology, Egyptian nationalism, and theories about the labor force that built the pyramids. It shows how debates over pyramid building and conspiracy theories about the millennium celebrations resonate in both the historical context of European imperialism in Egypt and current international political tensions. It examines archaeological accounts of the relationship between the pyramid builders and ancient state building, and the parallels between such accounts and the discipline's contemporary relationship with archaeological labor. It concludes by asking whether Egyptologists, both Egyptian and foreign, have not only a nationalist but also a disciplinary interest in particular narratives of the labor that built the pyramids.

Supervision in Primary Health Care - Can it be Carried Out Effectively in Developing Countries?

There is nothing new about supervision in primary health care service delivery. Supervision was even conducted by the Egyptian pyramid builders. Those supervising have often favoured ridicule and discipline to push individuals and communities to perform their duties. A traditional form of supervision, based on a top-down colonial model, was originally attempted as a tool to improve health service staff performance. This has recently been replaced by a more liberal "supportive supervision". While it is undoubtedly an improvement on the traditional model, we believe that even this version will not succeed to any great extent until there is a better understanding of the human interactions involved in supervision. Tremendous cultural differences exist over the globe regarding the acceptability of this form of management. While it is clear that health services in many countries have benefited from supervision of one sort or another, it is equally clear that in some countries, supervision is not carried out, or when carried out, is done inadequately. In some countries it may be culturally inappropriate, and may even be impossible to carry out supervision at all. We examine this issue with particular reference to immunization and other primary health care services in developing countries. Supported by field observations in Papua New Guinea, we conclude that supervision and its failure should be understood in a social and cultural context, being a far more complex activity than has so far been acknowledged. Social science-based research is needed to enable a third generation of culture-sensitive ideas to be developed that will improve staff performance in the field.

Congenital anomalies of the vertebral column: a case study on ancient and modern Egypt

The aim of this paper is to identify the frequency of congenital anomalies of the vertebral column in ancient Egyptians. The material for this study consisted of 272 skeletons excavated from Giza and belonging to the Old Kingdom (the time of the early pyramid builders). The vertebral columns of these skeletons were examined for the different types of congenital anomalies that affect the vertebrae. Nine cases (3.33%) were affected with spina bifida occulta, while six cases (2.22%) had transitional vertebrae at the lumbosacral joint. These frequencies are compared with other ancient populations. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Feeding the Town: New Evidence from the Complex of the Giza Pyramid Builders

General AnthropologyVolume 12, Issue 1-2 p. 1-9 Feeding the Town: New Evidence from the Complex of the Giza Pyramid Builders Mary Anne Murray, Institute of Archaeology, University College LondonSearch for more papers by this author Mary Anne Murray, Institute of Archaeology, University College LondonSearch for more papers by this author First published: 28 June 2008 https://doi.org/10.1525/ga.2005.12.1-2.1.2Citations: 3AboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume12, Issue1-2September 2005Pages 1-9 RelatedInformation

A New Era for Museums in Egypt

Zahi Hawass is an archaeologist and Egyptologist, and has conducted excavations in Egypt for over thirty years. His most recent discoveries include the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders at Giza and the Valley of the Golden Mummies in the Bahariya Oasis. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, has taught at the University of California in Los Angeles, at Cairo University, and at the American University in Cairo which awarded him an honorary degree this year. Zahi Hawass has written many scholarly articles and academic books, as well as various books aimed at the general public. He has received many awards, including the Golden Plate from the American Academy of Achievement, and is an Explorer in Residence for the National Geographic Society. He is currently Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, whereby he is in charge of all antiquities in Egypt.

Provisions for the pyramid builders: new evidence from the ancient site of Giza

Provisions for the pyramid builders: new evidence from the ancient site of Giza

Introduction: What Is Reenactment?

AS ANYONE W HO H AS swabbed decks and gone aloft knows, reenactment is fun. It indulges the twin passions of work and play, which are generally divorced from each other. It licenses dressing up, pretending and improvising, casting oneself as the protagonist of one's own research, and getting others to play along. Of course, it also calls for discomfort and enforced self-growth. But, like the cold nose atop the counterpane, which Melville says measures the warmth of the bed, the pain only sharpens the pleasure. 1 Iain McCalman's piece in this issue, "The Little Ship of Horrors," shows that suffering also makes for a better story. Perhaps because of this winning combination of imaginative play, self-improvement, intellectual enrichment, and sociality, reenactment is booming. History enthusi- asts gather weekly to enact past events, television history programs are aired to good ratings, living museums hire costumed performers, civic governments sponsor local performances on historical themes, tourists "follow in the steps" of earlier travelers, and academics venture into public history. Reenactment thus spans diverse history-themed genres—from theatrical and "living history" per- formances to museum exhibits, television, film, travelogues, and historiography. While there are important differences between these genres and their respective practitioners, they are linked by common methodologies, modes of representa- tion, and choice of subject matter. They are also linked by their combined use of different medial forms and the breakdown of traditionally distinct categories such as academic historian and television personality, weekend reenactor and historical adviser. 2 In its appropriation of the past, this populist phenomenon favors high-concept themes—Vikings, medieval knights, pyramid builders, pirates and mutineers, cowboys and Indians, explorers, slaves, pilgrims, and sol- diers. Reenactment now includes less gaudy subjects, such as the 1984 South Yorkshire miners' strike, yet the phenomenon remains overwhelmingly commit- ted to themes that are the perennial favorites of grade-school history. The thrall of reenactment cannot be attributed merely to an interest in colorful, familiar his- tory. Rather, its excursions are justified on political grounds; it is argued that "history from below" provides an important public service and gives voice to

Voyages of the pyramid builders: the true origins of the pyramids from lost Egypt to ancient America

Voyages of the pyramid builders: the true origins of the pyramids from lost Egypt to ancient America

Immutable laws of friction: preparing and fitting stone blocks into the Great Pyramid of Giza

How did the pyramid builders prepare and fit large stone blocks so that they were horizontal, orthogonal and flattened to within one hundredth of an inch? The author's experiments suggest that the surfaces were prepared using basic instruments made of rods and string, while to move the blocks the immutable laws of friction were mitigated by lubricating with mud and gypsum.

Prudent Stewards or Pyramid Builders? Distribution Policies of Private Foundations

The non-profit sector in the United States owns investment assets of about $1 trillion. Nearly half of these assets are owned by private foundations. The tax law requires that private foundations spend at least five percent of their assets each year on charitable purposes. Despite this minimum distribution requirement, private foundations doubled in size between 1994 and 1998. This paper examines the distributions made by a sample of private foundations between 1994 and 1998 using actual tax return data. It examines the amount and timeliness of these distributions. It also examines the level of administrative expenses per dollar of grants. It finds substantial variation among foundations with respect to each measure. It also finds that the tendency for a foundation to minimize the amounts currently transferred to charitable beneficiaries is positively correlated with size, fraction of operating expenses paid to outside experts, fraction of operating expenses paid to foundation officers, directors, and trustees, and is negatively associated with the fraction of current revenues from new contributions.

Ramper og stilladser – Løft af store sten i oldtiden

Ramper og stilladser – Løft af store sten i oldtiden

Ancient chronology. Astronomical orientation of the pyramids.

Spence speculates that Egypt's pyramid builders found true north by using a plumb line: when the stars Kochab and Mizar were seen on the same vertical, one was facing north. As evidence in support of this hypothesis, she points to the proposed interstar-line precession past the north celestial pole at a rate of 27' per century (cy). We argue that a mathematical error affects this result, which when corrected points more strongly to a different pair of stars. This suggests that the conventional ancient chronology, instead of being compressed, may actually have to be expanded slightly.