Chapter 1: The Quest for Cheops' Tomb

Japanese archaeologists are currently on an expedition to locate the tomb of Pharaoh Cheops, but interestingly, their search is not taking place within his famous pyramid.

This search represents a significant challenge, as the mummy of Pharaoh Cheops has never been discovered. A team of Japanese archaeologists has taken the initiative to explore this mystery, opting to conduct their search outside the Great Pyramid, which is dedicated to this ancient ruler.

[Photo: Jon Bodsworth, Copyrighted free use, via Wikimedia Commons] The Great Pyramid, often referred to as Cheops’ pyramid, is located on the Giza Plateau, adjacent to Egypt's capital, Cairo. This monumental structure has fascinated people since antiquity and captured the attention of various cultures, including the Greeks who visited Egypt over two millennia ago. Even back then, it was considered ancient, having been constructed around 4,500 years ago.

Chapter 2: The Excavation Begins

In early December, a collaborative team of Japanese and Egyptian archaeologists initiated excavations to the west of the Great Pyramid. "Though it may seem like a long shot, it's crucial to hold onto hope until the very end. I am optimistic that we will uncover something remarkable," stated Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura, the lead researcher and Japanese Egyptologist, who also serves as the rector of Higashi Nippon International University in Iwaki.

Archaeologists have not disclosed the rationale behind their belief that Cheops' tomb might be found outside the pyramid.

[Photo: Lorenz.King at geogr.uni-giessen.de, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons] The excavation is expected to span approximately two months. The site was selected based on studies conducted using ground-penetrating radar, which indicated the presence of an "ancient structure" buried beneath the surface. This area of the Giza Plateau is home to a vast 'western necropolis,' where prominent individuals were interred during the Old Kingdom period when Cheops reigned.

The burial sites were designed as mastabas, comprising a surface structure with a chapel for offerings and a shaft leading down to the burial chamber. Thus, the discovery of an underground chamber or tunnel carved into the limestone in this region would not be surprising. However, Japanese experts speculate it may indeed be a royal tomb.

[Photo: Robster1983 at English Wikipedia, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons] Dr. Sakuji Yoshimura has a long history of archaeological research in Egypt. In the 1980s, he utilized electromagnetic methods to identify a vacant area near one of the chambers (the so-called Queen’s Chamber) within Cheops’ pyramid. At that time, another research team conducted drilling, revealing that sand lay behind the limestone blocks.

“We concluded that the sand extracted by the French mission inside the Great Pyramid is different from the sand found at the Giza Plateau and Saqqara,” according to a Japanese report released several decades ago. The experts deduced that this sand was likely transported from the El Tur region in southern Sinai, situated hundreds of kilometers away from Giza. The purpose of this sand within the depths of the enormous pyramid remains a mystery.

[Photo: Jerome Bon from Paris, France, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons] Where, then, is the mummy of Cheops? Various scholars have occasionally posited that the chambers containing Cheops’ remains have yet to be found, advocating for a more thorough investigation of the pyramid. Nonetheless, most experts in ancient Egyptian history concur that the king's body was likely housed in the uppermost chamber of the Great Pyramid. A stone sarcophagus resides there, suggesting that the king's body, along with offerings, was likely looted in ancient times.

Even historians from antiquity, like the Greek Herodotus, mentioned that Cheops' tomb was situated outside the pyramid. However, this account is often deemed somewhat unreliable. Herodotus also claimed that the pyramid was constructed by slaves, a notion now debunked.

It's noteworthy that none of the over 100 Egyptian pyramids have remained intact to this day, and essentially no mummies have been uncovered within them. While early archaeologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries did find remnants of mummies and artifacts in some pyramids, the underground galleries of the world's oldest pyramid belonging to Djoser (Neczerichet) yielded the discovery of thousands of stone vessels. The fact that not only the Great Pyramid but others have been robbed suggests that the pursuit of Cheops’ tomb beyond it may be a challenging endeavor.

Chapter 3: Controversy in Research

The first video titled "NEW Discovery At The Giza Pyramids Got Me a YOUTUBE STRIKE!" explores the latest findings at the Giza pyramids that have sparked significant debate in the archaeological community.

The second video, "Is Gunung Padang a 27,000 Year Old Man-Made Pyramid? Analysis, Controversy and Response!" delves into the ongoing analysis and discussions surrounding the Gunung Padang site, questioning its potential as an ancient man-made structure.

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