Talking Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Pyramids» Talking Pyramids: Ancient Egyptian Pyramids News

Giza Archives Project Wins 2010 Award

Vincent — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:15:20 +0000

The Giza Archives Project at the Museum of Fine Arts has received the Hamer Kegan Award in recognition of outstanding efforts to promote its vast holdings of early 20th century archaeological expedition records.

The Giza Archives and its accompanying web site provide unprecedented access to the records of the MFA archaeological expeditions of the early 1900s. The digitization of thousands of glass plate negatives, expedition diary pages, object records, maps, and manuscripts provides people from all over the world the opportunity to virtually explore Giza and learn more about the history of archeology. Additionally, the web site’s creative display, visual search, and high resolution zoom features effectively use today’s technology to provide insight into the ancient Egyptian civilization during the Pyramid Age. Scholars and enthusiasts alike now have immediate access to important primary research materials that previously had been difficult, and in some cases impossible, to examine.

Since 1973, the Hamer Kegan Award has recognized individuals or institutions that have increased public awareness of archival documents for education, instructional, or other public purposes.

Read the full post at the Giza Archives Blog
Visit the Giza Archives

Barriers To Stop Pyramid Climbers at Giza

Vincent — Thu, 20 May 2010 01:30:27 +0000

No Climbing sign on the Pyramid of Khafre

Shortly after I posted the story of the eye-witness video of the removal of the man from the top of the pyramid of Khafre I received a report from another traveller on the Giza Plateau that day. Kassy sent in some photos of the incident as she watched the Egyptian Military helicopter remove the man.

Since then I have been chatting on Twitter with Andrew, who is currently living and working in Cairo.

I had heard that a fence of some sort has been erected around the pyramid of Khafre, apparently in response to the incident to prevent others from climbing the pyramid. So I asked Andrew if he was able to confirm this.

He travelled to Giza the next day and responded that both the northern and eastern sides of the pyramid have rope strung between metal bollards that have been cemented into the bedrock. Guards with walkie-talkies can be seen sitting around the pyramid…waiting.

The northern face of Khafre's pyramid showing rope strung between bollards

Guards positioned around the pyramid look out for anyone attempting to climb the pyramid

These are not new additions though, these bollards have been here for some years now and can also be seen around Khufu’s pyramid. It does seem as though they might have increased the number of guards positioned around the pyramid.

On the western side of Khafre’s pyramid, however, a new metal fence has been erected. This western barrier appears to be a new addition, perhaps a result of the recent climbing of the pyramid. Andrew was kind enough to take a batch of photos especially for Talking Pyramids readers.

Photo of the metal barrier on the western side of the Khafre's pyramid with a close up inset

Andrew’s photos are used with permission. Some rights reserved.
No Climbing photo by Jay Bergesen. Some rights reserved.

Passengers Wait As Crew Tour the Pyramids

Vincent — Sat, 01 May 2010 09:31:02 +0000

Passengers on an Air India flight were recently left waiting while the airline crew went off sight seeing.

While volcanic ash was responsible for grounding aircraft all over Europe it was the whim of the airline crew to go and visit the pyramids of Giza that delayed passengers at Cairo airport for 16 hours!

After waiting for a few hours, the passengers initially thought there was a technical snag. However, they were surprised to note that the pilot was there in his seat, but the seven-member crew from Cairo that was supposed to board the flight was missing. To add to their shock, they learnt that the missing members were actually sight seeing, which was why they could not return in time for the flight’s onward journey.

A spokesperson from Air India said:

“We have initiated action against the crew members who did not report to work on time. Stern action will be taken against them.”

One of the crewmembers admitted that they were off to see the pyramids, but said that they were late by only five hours.

Meh, what’s five hours?

Read the full story: Passengers Wait as Air India Crew Roam Cairo

Photo: An Air Transport Command Airplane Flies Over The Pyramids During World War II, 1943, Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt.

The 3D Giza Plateau & Virtual Archaeology

Vincent — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:36:18 +0000

Experience the Giza Plateau in 3D

The Giza Archives Project at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has for many years been the most extensive online resource on the archaeology of the Giza Plateau. Much of the archived material is from the 40 years of excavations carried out by Egyptologist George Reisner who led the the Harvard University-Boston MFA expedition at Giza from 1902 to 1942.

Now the Giza Archives Project has moved into the virtual arena with the release of Giza 3D!

However, this is not the first time the project has used 3D immersive technology to explore the possibilities of ‘Virtual Egyptology’. About four years ago the Giza Archives Project developed a presence in the online virtual platform Second Life with an exhibit featuring ten mastaba-tombs of Cemetery G2100 at Giza.

A scene from the tomb of Merib in Giza Archives 'Cemetery G 2100' in Second Life

Now, with the help of Dassault Systèmes, the 3D software company that worked with Jean-Pierre Houdin to create ‘Khufu Revealed’, a fully immersive interactive experience of the tombs of the Giza Plateau will be created for both specialists and the general public.

According to the Dassault Systèmes website, the partnership will “imagine new forms of multi-platform experiences, whether individual or collective, through Internet devices or through more complex virtual and augmented reality systems, using game consoles, 3D screens or even movie theaters willing to create new kinds of archeological immersive interactions…” and “…will result in new forms of scientific inquiry and communication. Virtual archaeology, using the power of scientific simulation tools and 3D immersive experiences, raises new questions, offers new hypotheses and allows us to simulate them in virtual environments.

Unlike attempts by other companies to recreate ancient Egyptian artefacts and environments in 3D, this real-time virtual reconstruction of the Giza Plateau is accurately replicated by using actual archaeological data. As such, it has great potential as an educational research tool.

As Peter Der Manuelian put it:

“These tools and approaches offer new dimensions to Egyptological research, allowing for innovation and enhanced knowledge sharing. In Dassault Systèmes we found a company partner devoted to both scientific accuracy and technological creativity.”

Watch the video flythrough of the interactive application showing some of the tombs located at the Giza plateau:

References:
Giza 3D
Giza Archives Project
Virtual Giza
Giza Cemetery 2100 in SecondLife

Overseer of the Great Pyramid Returns?

Vincent — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:53:35 +0000

Hemiunu, Vizier to king Khufu. Photo by kairoinfo4u

The return of the seated staute of Hemiunu, overseer of the construction of the Great Pyramid has been confirmed. On Sunday the Roman and Pelizaeus Museum in Hildesheim, Germany stated that it would lend the prized statue to Egypt for the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum in 2013.

However, there are already doubts over whether this loan will go ahead after Zahi Hawass has stated that he expects the statue to remain in Egypt after the loan.

Kristina Zappen of the Hildesheim Museum said there had never been any official request from Cairo to give the statue back. She confirmed an agreement had been reached on the 2013 loan and she added that it provided for the statue to then return to Germany.

Hildesheim was not even considering giving the statue back, she added. The whole museum collection was of honest provenance.

“Every item in our collection arrived in Germany legally,” she said. If the Egyptian government were to officially question the statue’s ownership, the museum would have to reconsider the loan.

“The whole thing would have to be thought out again,” she said.

Source:
German Museum Confirms Loan of Disputed Statue to Egypt

Photograph of the face of Hemiuni by kairoinfo4u under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial ShareAlike 2.0 license.

Giza Caves Sealed Shut With Iron Gate

Vincent — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:41:52 +0000

Entrance to the 'Giza Caves'. Photo by Larry Hunter

The seemingly insignificant little tomb known as NC2, located in the north cliff of the Giza Plateau has been the source of some controversy over the past few months since author Andrew Collins published descriptions, video and photos of what he called Egypt’s Cave Underworld, accessed via this tomb.

“We have dozens of clear photos, along with film footage, that make it clear that extending from the Tomb of the Birds is an extensive series of cave passages that almost certainly reach beneath the main pyramid field,” Collins said.

Following the ensuing controversy, in August last year Dr Zahi Hawass launched an excavation of the tomb.

“We have experts in all fields working with us…Archaeologists, geologists, engineers, and architects, to name a few.” said Zahi Hawass.

In an email to Collins Hawass wrote:

“I will be posting information about our excavation at Giza on my web site and will be publishing the results of our work in due course.”

A few days ago Collins posted an update to the controversy revealing that the entrance to NC2 has recently been sealed shut with an iron gate, there by barring entry to the so-called ‘Giza Caves’.

Although from the photos the gate appears to be cemented in place and not moveable there is some speculation over whether or not this is a permanent fixture. Collins points to a padlock that can be seen still sealed in it’s plastic wrapping on the side of the gate.

The other tombs NC1 and NC3 have apperently also been fitting with similar metal gates.

Read the full story at Andrew Collins’ website: Giza’s Cave Underworld Sealed Shut

Photo of the gate by Larry Hunter.

Update on the Giza Plateau

Vincent — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 03:13:48 +0000

Camels operators gather at Giza

Zahi Hawass has appeared in a recent article in Al-Ahram once again explaining his push to ‘clean up’ the Giza Plateau. He talks about the criticism the project has received from local camel operaters, who’s livelihoods depend on the tourists. Hawass explains that everyone benefits with the new system as the tourists are now in a better position to see the camel stables and so taking a camel ride is made easier, safer, and more accessible.

None of the horse and camel drivers are allowed inside the pyramid compound any longer. This system permits us to identify the camel drivers who try to take advantage of the tourists, because, now, for the first time, there is a Tourist Police office, an Antiquities office, and even an area to feed the animals, all near the stables.

At the same time, for those tourists who want to buy souvenirs and drinks, they will not be hassled by random individuals. It is my dream to clean up the Giza Plateau and return it to its pristine glory. I believe this project benefits everyone, even the camel and horse drivers, as well as those who sell souvenirs.

Hawass went on to report on the current state of the project with the implementation of the new track for electric cars now being 70 % complete.

Excavations at Menkaure in May 2009

A very interesting point of the piece was at the end where Hawass reports that a wooden floor is being constructed in front of the pyramid for the safety of the tourists. During the clearing and excavation the team uncovered evidence that demonstrates the method by which the pyramid of Menkaure was levelled as well as other evidence regarding its construction.

Statue found near the pyramid of Menkaure

This would explain the heavy land moving activity that was seen on the plateau in front of Menkaure’s pyramid in May last year.

Dr Hawass also refers to the unfinished seated statue that was uncovered directly in front of Menkaure’s pyramid in February last year.

It now appears that the accidental discovery of this statue as well as the deep excavations witnessed on the east side of the pyramid last year were related to this leveling of the ground around the pyramid in preperation for the installation of the wooden platform.

It’s difficult to dig anywhere on the plateau without making a new discovery of some sort and it is always great news to hear of new evidence being uncovered, especially when it concerns the construction of the pyramids.

“I am certain that this project will bring back the mystery of the pyramids,
and all will benefit from it” – Zahi Hawass.

Sources:
Al-Ahram: Dig Days: Once again: camels and horses at the Pyramids
Photo Giza, Egypt by Macloo. Some rights reserved.
Photo of Menkaure’s pyramid by Todd. Some rights reserved.
Photo of the seated statue is a REUTERS/Egyptian Supreme Council Of Antiquities/Handout.