-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cairo, December 2nd, 2009 – Egypt’s leading Egyptologist, Dr Zahi Hawass, has revealed that an excavation team under his charge are investigating an ancient tomb at the centre of claims regarding the alleged discovery of a cave underworld beneath the Pyramids of Giza.
In August British writer and explorer Andrew Collins announced that he had rediscovered the entrance to a previously unexplored cave system, entered via a mysterious tomb several hundred meters west of the Great Pyramid.
The cave entrance was found following clues left in the 200-year-old memoirs of British diplomat and explorer Henry Salt, who recorded how in 1817 he and Italian explorer Giovanni Caviglia had investigated cave “catacombs” at Giza for a distance of “several hundred yards” before coming across a “spacious” chamber.
This chamber linked to three others of equal size, from which went various labyrinthine passages, one of which the Italian later explored for a distance of “300 feet further”.
Dr Hawass, Secretary General for Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, has now confirmed that he has ordered an all-Egyptian team to explore the tomb at the centre of the controversy.
“We are clearing this system now, and it is a Late Period catacomb, like many others around Egypt,” he stated this week. “There is no mystery about it, and there is no connection with esoteric topics. We will publish our results as part of our normal process.”
While applauding Dr Hawass’s new interest in the site, Collins remains sceptical of his motives. “We knew in August that he had started clearing the tomb,” he said. “The excavations began almost immediately after knowledge of the cave discovery hit the internet.”
Collins is also unconvinced by Hawass’s explanation of what he calls the “catacomb”. “Does his use of the term ‘system’ now suggest that he has found and entered the caves, which he previously denied even existed? he asks. “My colleagues and I have examined photographic evidence of dynastic catacombs throughout Egypt, and these all appear to be carved by human hands.
“Those at Giza are natural, and penetrate the bedrock for many hundreds of metres, perhaps following the course of local geological faulting.”
Although Dr Hawass suggests there is no mystery surrounding the “catacomb”, Collins suspects that the caves extend beneath the Second Pyramid, where ancient tradition puts the legendary tomb of Tomb of Hermes, Egypt’s legendary founder.
“This has never been found,” he added, “So perhaps it is still there, awaiting discovery, somewhere close to where Salt and Caviglia reached nearly 200 years ago.”
Collins book Beneath the Pyramids, published last month, tells the story of his discovery of the natural cave system. He has also released a YouTube video showing his exploration of the caves in 2008.
For more on the discovery of Giza’s cave underworld, go to www.andrewcollins.com, or read the full story in Andrew Collins book Beneath the Pyramids (4th Dimension Press, 2009).
Andrew Collins can be contacted via Jennie Taylor Martin of 4th Dimension Press at jennie.taylor.martin@edgarcayce.org, or via his website www.andrewcollins.com .
posted
It's always struck me strange as to why Hawass always goes out of his way to say "this has no esoteric connection" blah blah blah. Alternative Historians have been talking about "something" underground in Egypt for years. Why doesn't he just shut up about it and just say they'll look and see what's there. It almost makes me wonder whether he has another motive. He does it too when talking about what the Ancient Egyptians looked like.
Posts: 1219 | From: North Carolina, USA | Registered: Jul 2004
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posted
My guess is he his trying to go for some central position..but that would be the wrong approach as that would work for politics not science where some thing is or is not.
Posts: 6546 | From: japan | Registered: Feb 2009
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posted
Hawass always comes down on the side of science and historical accuracy. Studing ancient Egypt is a massive undertaking Hawass has always done a super job of steering the ship of scholarship in a positive and productive direction. He is one of my heroes for sure.
Posts: 2036 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2009
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quote:Originally posted by Hammer: He is one of my heroes for sure.
Yeah not for nothing he's called the Egyptian "Indiana Jones"!! Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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Yes but he dos much more Tiger. He keeps research on ancient Egypt in focus. You have to have a strong leader in charge of such a maqssive effort.
Posts: 2036 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2009
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