How important is investigation of the northern Queens Chamber shaft?
Rudolf Gantenbrink
Ever since that sensational discovery in the lower southern shaft, the northern shaft has received little publicity. But exploring it might well help to solve the ongoing riddle of the southern lower shaft. We do not yet know how and where the northern shaft ends. Will we discover another stone slab blocking the way?
Not only that, the northern shaft itself may contain equally enticing mysteries.
In 1879, British archeologist Waynman Dixon retrieved a number of artifacts from the lower shaft northern. One of them was a small piece of a square wooden rod, which, unfortunately, has since disappeared. Another of his finds resembles a small grappling hook. The two rivets in the hook seem to match two holes in a square rod, presumably made of wood, which is still lodged about 18 meters up into the shaft. (See THE LOWER NORTHERN SHAFT at THE FINDINGS page.)
I have carried out extensive modifications to the robots, giving them greater maneuverability to deal with bends in the shafts and differing shaft heights. So now, the northern lower shaft presents no major obstacles. We could explore it further with relative ease and at moderate cost. And we may be able to extract that enticing rod. If it does turn out to be made of wood, it can be carbon-dated. And that might well provide further evidence about the age of the Cheops Pyramid.
We should never forget that the upper region of this shaft constitutes the last remaining unexplored area of one of the world's most important historical monuments. We know it is there - and all we have to do is apply existing technology
Not only that, the northern shaft itself may contain equally enticing mysteries.
In 1879, British archeologist Waynman Dixon retrieved a number of artifacts from the lower shaft northern. One of them was a small piece of a square wooden rod, which, unfortunately, has since disappeared. Another of his finds resembles a small grappling hook. The two rivets in the hook seem to match two holes in a square rod, presumably made of wood, which is still lodged about 18 meters up into the shaft. (See THE LOWER NORTHERN SHAFT at THE FINDINGS page.)
I have carried out extensive modifications to the robots, giving them greater maneuverability to deal with bends in the shafts and differing shaft heights. So now, the northern lower shaft presents no major obstacles. We could explore it further with relative ease and at moderate cost. And we may be able to extract that enticing rod. If it does turn out to be made of wood, it can be carbon-dated. And that might well provide further evidence about the age of the Cheops Pyramid.
We should never forget that the upper region of this shaft constitutes the last remaining unexplored area of one of the world's most important historical monuments. We know it is there - and all we have to do is apply existing technology