Granite blocks from the era of pharaoh Khufu discovered in eastern Cairo
On June 13, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced that archaeologists had discovered granite blocks dating to the reign of the pharaoh Khufu (2589-2566 B.C.) in eastern Cairo.
An incomplete stone wall unearthed in the Ain Shams area of Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Internet).
A carved block with decorative patterns unearthed in the Ain Shams area of Cairo, Egypt. (Photo: Internet).
Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, said: "This is the first time that artifacts of the pharaoh Khufu have been found in the Ain Shams area (one of the oldest districts of the capital, Cairo)."
He added that the blocks may have been part of an unidentified building, or may have been moved to the Giza Pyramids Plateau to be used as building material during the Ramesside period (which lasted from 1292 B.C. to 1069 B.C.).
In addition, the archaeologists found a granite fragment belonging to the pharaoh Pepi I Meryre engraved with the image of the falcon Horus, a statue base of the pharaoh Amasis II and several parts of sphinx statues. Remains linked to other pharaohs, including Amenemhat II, III and V, Senusret III, Thutmose the Great, Ramesses II and Seti II, were also uncovered during this excavation.
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