DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0015
4
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
Excavation between Third and Fifth Pyramids.
Campbell's Tomb.
Fourth Pj'ramid.—Interior.
Well north of Sphinx.
The shaft1 between Campbell's Tomb and the Second
Pyramid was examined. From the grotto at the bottom
of the first shaft a second descended to a lower chamber,
in which square pillars had been left to support the roof;
a third shaft in this apartment was full of water, which
was perfectly fresh, and covered the floor to the depth
of four or five inches. The level of the water was one
hundred and thirteen feet seven inches below the top of
the upper shaft. The Arabs said that an horizontal pas-
sage proceeded to the northward from these chambers
through the side of the rock, but, owing to the drifting
of the desert sand, and to the effects of repeated ex-
cavations, it is at present impossible to form an idea
of the original surface of the ground. It was highly
probable that water had been collected in artificial reser-
voirs for religious purposes ; but we did not suppose that
it proceeded from a spring, or fountain, as nothing of the
kind was to be met with in the whole country of Egypt;
although, had it been proved to be an original source,
it would have sufficiently accounted for the reputed
sanctity of the ground. It may proceed from rain, but
does not appear to flow from the river; as it does not rise
and fall with it.8 In whatever way it may be produced,
the sarcophagi could not have been intentionally im-
mersed, and the inundations of the tombs must have
1 No. 1, in map.
2 See Appendix ; where the different levels are stated.
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
Excavation between Third and Fifth Pyramids.
Campbell's Tomb.
Fourth Pj'ramid.—Interior.
Well north of Sphinx.
The shaft1 between Campbell's Tomb and the Second
Pyramid was examined. From the grotto at the bottom
of the first shaft a second descended to a lower chamber,
in which square pillars had been left to support the roof;
a third shaft in this apartment was full of water, which
was perfectly fresh, and covered the floor to the depth
of four or five inches. The level of the water was one
hundred and thirteen feet seven inches below the top of
the upper shaft. The Arabs said that an horizontal pas-
sage proceeded to the northward from these chambers
through the side of the rock, but, owing to the drifting
of the desert sand, and to the effects of repeated ex-
cavations, it is at present impossible to form an idea
of the original surface of the ground. It was highly
probable that water had been collected in artificial reser-
voirs for religious purposes ; but we did not suppose that
it proceeded from a spring, or fountain, as nothing of the
kind was to be met with in the whole country of Egypt;
although, had it been proved to be an original source,
it would have sufficiently accounted for the reputed
sanctity of the ground. It may proceed from rain, but
does not appear to flow from the river; as it does not rise
and fall with it.8 In whatever way it may be produced,
the sarcophagi could not have been intentionally im-
mersed, and the inundations of the tombs must have
1 No. 1, in map.
2 See Appendix ; where the different levels are stated.