Could it be that the Great of Giza has been hiding its true age? The hypothesis put forth by engineer-researcher Alberto Donini from the University of Bologna (Italy) has erupted like a thunderclap.
Until now, scientists have been confident that the tallest pyramid in Giza—the Great Pyramid, or Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops)—was built around 2560 B.C. (The height of this monumental structure is 137.8 meters, originally 146.6 meters).
However, after analyzing the erosion of the structure, Donini claims that the Great Pyramid is thousands of years older.
What led the researcher to this conclusion?
The massive blocks of the pyramid that we see today were once concealed beneath limestone casing stones that gave the structure a smooth, shiny appearance. Over the centuries, these stones were gradually removed and repurposed for other constructions. (Some of this material was sent to Cairo in the early 14th century). Underneath the removed casing, blocks that had been exposed to the elements for over six centuries were revealed. Meanwhile, the blocks at the base of the pyramid had been unprotected since the pyramid’s construction, as reported by IFLScience.
According to the researcher, he “measured the erosion on the surfaces of the blocks that were once covered by casing and compared it to the erosion of neighboring stones that had been exposed to atmospheric factors since the monument’s construction.”
By studying the signs of weathering on the pyramid and using a statistical model, Donini concluded that there is a 68.2% probability that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built between 8954 B.C. and 36,878 B.C., averaging around 22,916 B.C.
Thus, it is likely that the Khufu simply restored the Great Pyramid, claiming authorship for himself, according to Donini. He suggests that “around 20,000 years B.C., there existed a civilization in Egypt capable of constructing at least the Pyramid of Khufu.”
Donini also noted that these results are approximate, and the research has numerous limitations.
While the findings have already been published on ResearchGate, they still need to undergo peer review.
The scientific community is skeptical of the hypothesis
Donini’s research assumes that weathering occurred consistently, while conditions around the pyramids have changed over the centuries. Additionally, surfaces could have been covered by sand, making them invisible to various forms of weathering. Moreover, the tourism boom around the pyramids has significantly contributed to their deterioration.
The results obtained diverge sharply from previous attempts to date the pyramids using several reliable methods.
“First and foremost, we date the pyramids based on their role in the development of Egyptian architecture and material culture over 3,000 years. Therefore, we are not dealing with just one source of factual knowledge about Giza. We are dealing with the entirety of Egyptology and Egyptian archaeology,” explained renowned Egyptologist and archaeologist Mark Lehner.
He noted that a telling example is the pottery. The pottery found in Giza is similar to that from the time of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, who built these pyramids during the Fourth Dynasty. Experts have meticulously studied the 3,000-year evolution of pottery.
Ultimately, scientists confirmed the accuracy of the data using radiocarbon dating, analyzing various materials found in the pyramids.
Photo: Unsplash
