Comments on: Pyramid Builders Tombs Found at Giza

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:15:01 +0000

Hehehe, I am sure they knew about it already but thanks anyway. Perhaps Hawass feeling a bit guilty for leaving Lehner out of the limelight. So how’s your article coming along?

By: Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen

Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:27:09 +0000

Apparently somebody connected with Zahi’s blog reads you, Vincent! I noticed that the entry has been updated to include Mark Lehner!

Good for them!

By: Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen

Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:40:05 +0000

True enough, Lehner and AERA are well covered, and in fairness the focus of Hawass’ press release was the new discovery. And he did offer the obligatory, if not anonymous, nod to Dr. Lehner’s work. But with all of the headlines giving the impression that we have “finally” proven that slaves did not build the pyramids..

Maybe it’s half knee-jerk reaction and half writing for my own edification. More than anything I think it’s just a first rate story! From his beginnings with the Cayce group, to plotting out the first real map of the plateau, narrowing down where to look for the builder’s settlement, and finally giving up a tenure-track position with the Oriental Institute to go all-out in his quest. There is something very Joseph Campbellian about it all.

I guess in the context of the recent headlines I feel he deserves more than an anonymous footnote, and writing my version of the tale is just me tilting at media windmills. But I shall endeavor not to reinvent the wheel!

By: Vincent

Vincent — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 01:05:52 +0000

Mark Lehner’s work on the ‘Lost City’ and the Giza Plateau Mapping Project is very well documented. Hawass did refer to it but just didn’t mention Lehner’s name when he said:

“This is the first time to uncover tombs like the ones that were found during the 1990’s, which belong to the late 4th and 5th Dynasties (2649-2374 BC),”

He did also mentioned the original discovery of the workers’ tombs in 1990. As you know, Hawass likes to make an impact with any new discovery and so I suppose he didn’t want to lessen it by harping on about the already discovered stuff.

As for the media, well, it’s become a copy and paste world I guess. Most of the articles, such as the Rueters story I linked to, also referred to the original discovery of the workers tombs in 1990 but none of them mentioned Mark Lehner or AERA which is a bit slack.

Thanks for your compliments. I look forward to reading your article.

By: Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen

Keith Payne / Shemsu Sesen — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:35:58 +0000

Hey Vincent,

I am glad I am not the only one who was scratching his head at the “newness” of this “news.” Dr. Lehner’s name is conspicuously absent from Mr. Hawass’ press release, and thus absent from all media coverage I have seen. The latter can be chalked up to the laziness of the media, the former on…?

I am knee-deep in an article I hope to post on Em Hotep tomorrow putting this news (ahem) into some context regrding the work of Dr. Lehner, not to mention Richard Redding of U. of Mich.

Nevermind the worker graffiti discovered by George Reisner, what, a century or so ago?

Good job on being the first writer that I have seen to call this story to the floor. Your diligence is, as always, much appreciated.

–Keith