Archaeology & History

Who built the Great Pyramid ? Inscriptions offer fresh clues

By T.K. Randall
July 3, 2025

Image: Camel near Khafre's Pyramid, Egypt
Credit: Myousry6666 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) During a recent exploration of narrow chambers above the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza, famed Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass and his team uncovered previously unseen markings and inscriptions that were thought to have been left by workers over 3,500 years ago.

The markings - along with the discovery of tombs belonging to skilled laborers to the south - contribute to the argument that the builders of the ancient monument were not slaves as some have claimed.

Instead, they were likely to be skilled craftsmen who were revered for their work.

"[The discoveries] confirm that the builders were not slaves," said Dr Hawass.

"If they had been, they would never have been buried in the shadow of the pyramids. Slaves would not have prepared their tombs for eternity, like kings and queens did, inside these tombs."Dr Hawass also addressed speculation that these inscriptions could be forgeries.

"They were found in chambers that are difficult and dangerous to access, and they use writing styles that only trained Egyptologists can accurately interpret," he said on the Matt Beall Limitless podcast.

"It's nearly impossible that someone in recent times could have forged something like this. You must climb about 45 feet and crawl through tight spaces to even reach those chambers."

While some explorers did leave their own markings inside the pyramid during the 18th and 19th centuries, Dr Hawass is adament that the recently found inscriptions are not examples of these.

"The inscriptions we found are clearly much older, original graffiti from ancient Egyptian workers," he said.

Source: Mail Online

Tags: Pyramids, Egypt