Hidden Hieroglyphs Revealed by New Robot in Khufu Pyramid Shafts

The first images of ancient Egyptian markings in a tiny chamber that have not been seen for 4500 years

(image courtesy of New Scientist)

The Djedi Project, name given to the team of international-Egyptian researchers whose purpose is to send a robotic tunnel explorer into the two “air shafts” that lead from the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Khufu to gather evidence to determine the purpose of the shafts. (The name of the project - Djedi was named by Zahi Hawass (SCA) after Djedi, the magician who Khufu consulted when planning the layout of his pyramid).

Well the Djedi team has revealed to finding hieroglyphs written in red ink not seen by human eyes since the pyramid was constructed. They also unveiled details about the two copper pins embedded in one of the "secret doors" in the southern shaft.

The hieroglyphs in red ink was used throughout Giza monuments, used mainly by the pyramid workers themselves to signify names of the various groups or 'gangs.' "Red-painted numbers and graffiti are very common around Giza," says Peter Der Manuelian, an Egyptologist at Harvard University and director of the Giza Archives at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. "They are often masons' or work-gangs' marks, denoting numbers, dates or even the names of the gangs."

There also appears to be lines drawn in red ink, most likely by masons in shaping or guiding the pyramid shaft stones. The hieroglyphs hopefully might help egyptologists and investigators understand the purpose of the shafts built in the pyramid.

For the infamous two copper pins embedded in the door to the chamber of the shaft, it appears to be looped from behind after the camera from the robot was able to view it. The back wall of the block door is found to be polished and not rough hewn as the other blocks, possibly signifying a special purpose not yet known.

The Djedi robot is expected to reveal much more in the next months. The next step will be to investigate the chamber's far wall to check whether its another door, as suggested in the 2002 live exploration, or just a solid block of stone. After that, the northern shaft of the Khufu would be explored. The team has committed to completing the work by the end of 2011 and a detailed report on the findings is expected to be published in early 2012.

A close-up view of the red figures on the floor behind the first blocking stone (Image: Djedi Team, courtesy of New Scientist):

A composite image of the chamber floor behind the first blocking stone showing red figures to the right of a mason's line (Image: Djedi Team, courtesy of New Scientist):

A composite image of the rear of the first blocking stone showing the back of the metal pins embedded in the first blocking stone (Image: Djedi Team, courtesy of New Scientist):

Resources:

Pyramid-Exploring Robot Reveals Hidden Hieroglyphs, Discovery News (May 26, 2011)

First Images from Great Pyramid`s Chamber of Secrets, New Scientist (May 25, 2011)

UPDATE ON PYRAMID HIEROGLYPHICS - Discovery News

THE GIST

• Hieroglyphs written in red paint on the floor of a hidden chamber in Egypt's Great Pyramid are numerical signs.
• The builders of the pyramid simply recorded the total length of the southern shaft from the Queen's Chamber: 121 cubits.
• Multiples of 7, 9 and 11 cubits occur frequently in the design of the Great pyramid.

UPDATE - 3D Tour of Pyramid Shaft (New Scientist)

On 25 May, New Scientist was first to reveal some exciting findings from an innovative robotic exploration of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. A robot built at Leeds University in the UK, called Djedi, explored a mysterious tunnel thought to lead to a secret chamber in the pyramid - providing stunning pictures of so-far-undeciphered hieroglyphs written in red paint, alongside lines cut into the tunnel walls by stone masons. All are currently being analysed by egyptologists - and many more revelations are expected as Djedi's video streams are interpreted over time.

Dassault Systèmes, a technology partner of the Leeds roboticists, has produced a compelling video fly-through to help people understand precisely where the tunnel was in the pyramid and where the hieroglyphics had been found

3D video report of the Djedi Robot Mission in Giza - Dassault Systèmes.
Pictures from inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt, gathered by a robot explorer designed by University of Leeds engineers, together with Scoutek, UK and Dassault Systèmes, France, have been published.
The findings appear in the latest issue of the Annales du Service Des Antiquities de l'Egypte (ASAE), the official publication of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities.
A Dassault Systèmes Passion for Innovation project.

More info at: http://perspectives.3ds.com/surprise/exclusive-3d-reconstruction-of-the-djedi-robot-findings-in-the-great-pyramid/

Courtesy: TVniman