Talk:Egyptian pyramid construction techniques

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  • I have started this page in order to merge the article sections in Khufu, Great Pyramid of Khufu and Egyptian Pyramids. This will allow the reduction in duplication and allow these articles to concentrate on their actual subject. Markh 11:19, 26 November 2005 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] A reader's note:

Construction techniques here are horribly short. no pictures. It needs to be broadened. i read an article on Encarta, they have huge one.

Feel free to move sections on contruction from Great Pyramid of Giza article! Markh 11:32, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

Dear friends,

I developed a new theory regarding the method of construction of the Pyramids in Egypt. I received a patent for the method in 2003. I have written the method on my website at www.spacetimepyramids.com

Hope you like it. Sorry could not include the method in the original wikepedia article because I am the author of the theory and I gather that I can not include myself. Enjoy!

[edit] why is this its own page?

I think that this page should be a section of the Egyptian pyramids page. At the very least, the Egyptian Pyramids page should link to this! Stagefrog2 05:58, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] First Paragraph???

Okay so this first paragraph needs work:

Two major theories surround the construction of the pyramids of Egypt. The first theory, suggested by the Greeks, posits that slaves were forced to work until the pyramid was done. Current consensus among Egyptologists also is that the head of the Great Sphinx at Giza is that of Khafre, who is believed to have built the pyramid next to Khufu's in the Pyramids of Giza.

First of all, it only mentions one theory. Second, the "Current consensus..." sentence doesn't seem to have anything to do with construction techniques. Perhaps it belongs in the Egyptian pyramids page? Stagefrog2 06:05, 20 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Internal ramp theory

In August 2004 two amateur French Egyptologists, Gilles Dormion and Jean-Yves Verd'hurt, claimed that they had discovered, using ground-penetrating radar and architectural analysis, a previously unknown corridor inside the pyramid. If their claim is true, the corridor is unlikely ever to have been violated and could possibly lead to a chamber containing the king's remains. But, as of yet, the pair have been refused permission by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to follow up their findings and, they hope, prove the room's existence.

I excised this from the page because it does not belong in an article about construction techniques; perhaps someone can find a better place for it? Bushing 09:15, 16 December 2005 (UTC)

Archaeology Magazine has an article online about an internal ramp being used: "How to Build a Pyramid"

I feel I cannot accept the implication in '..the theory, which according to Houdin makes his theory the only one "proven" to be a viable technique.' Is anyone prepared to "prove" the technique described at http://www.farmhall.com/drupal/files/pyramid.pdf is not viable? Mehtopa 10:55, 18 August 2007 (UTC)

What I wrote does not say that I or Wikipedia considers Houdin's theory to be the only one "proven" (and note I put the word "proven" in appostrophies, implying we're stretching the usual meaning of the word), what I wrote was that Houdin says that he's claiming his theory is the only one "proven". I think what he's implying is that the CAD software they used was able to actually simulate the building of the pyramid, one stone at a time, and that such a simulation can be considered a proof that it could also be done in reality.
Anyway, you're welcome to edit my contribution and we'll see what other contributors think. --RenniePet 11:41, 18 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Egyptian pyramid ramps

A Google search reveals article after article showing that the theory that the Egypti;ans used mud ramps to construct the pyramids doesn't hold up to rational analysis. Yet Wikipedia continues to publish articles showing mud ramp construction as if it were a rational and realistic theory. On the other hand my article describing in detail how the pyramids could have been constructed using movable wooden ramps was rejected as "spam."

I am not trying to sell anything, and my article is NOT spam! It may reproduced at no charge. The only restriction is that I continue to be named as the author.

Wikipedia's rejection seems to me to be arbitrary, unfair, and unrealistic. The editors even removed a link to my article. Wikipedia is publishing misinformation about a theory that has been repeatedly debunked and refusing to consider a unique and reasonable alternative.

Forgive me, but this seems to me to be unreasoning prejudice. Please review this time without prejudice my article http://www.fsteiger.com/Pyramid.html

Thank you, Frank Steiger 8-19-07


```` —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Fsteiger (talkcontribs) 21:03:41, August 19, 2007 (UTC).

I fear you are suffering from the same problem that I have. Although no mainstream description of the building of the Great Pyramid stacks up, these same descriptions are nevertheless mainstream, frequently referenced and appear in many referenced documents. Though I believe my description ( http://www.farmhall.com/drupal/files/pyramid.pdf ) is viable, it is not mainstream and therefore does not merit inclusion in wiki. That is the nature of wiki. It is not unreasoning prejudice which precludes our articles but their absence elsewhere from the public domain consensus. Recognition has to precede inclusion, not the other way round. Basically, we are outsiders in the Egyptian community. Mehtopa 12:47, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Peter C. Sundt

As far as I've been able to determine, Sundt is not a recognized authority on pyramid construction techniques, so his self-published essay should not be referenced in the article per WP:EL and WP:RS. Further, the editor that has been adding the link appears to be Sundt himself, in violation of WP:COI. --Ronz 21:26, 12 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Building the pyramids from quarried stones

The bald statement that '.. the stones forming the core of the pyramids were roughly cut, especially in the Great Pyramid..' should surely not go unchallenged. Where is the supporting evidence? Who has investigated the core of the GP and come to this conclusion? It is a likely conjecture but AFAIK nobody has any certain knowledge of the nature of the GP interior beyond what is visible. The wiki should only refer to knowledge or evidence in the public domain.

Mehtopa (talk) 15:51, 20 January 2008 (UTC)