UPDATE ON THE AIR SHAFT LEADING TO THE ALLEGED SECRET CHAMBER

Before you read this article,  I suggest you read the background articles on this web site about the King's and Queen's Chamber air shafts and the door leading to the alleged secret chamber.  Click on  "articles" on the blue menu bar above.  Then click on "The Search for Hidden Chambers" and read the first two articles:

THE HIDDEN CHAMBER AND STRANGE METAL PLATE 

ARTIFACTS AND WOOD DISCOVERED IN THE GREAT PYRAMID

OR just click on the articles above to go there.

This article will continue from where the other articles left off.  New information is available on the status of the exploration of the Queen's Chamber air shafts and the hidden chamber.  Much of this information was obtained from the new book GIZA THE TRUTH, just published in 1999.  

The background story on this web site leaves off after Gantenbrink's exploration of the Queen's Chamber air shaft in 1993.   He obviously had plans to pursue the exploration of the shaft but unfortunately, possibly because of all the publicity he received, the Egyptian authorities did not invite him to continue his exploration.  His robot, Upuaut is currently in the British Museum.  

In 1995, Zahi Hawass announced that they would be following up on the exploration of the door leading to the alleged hidden chamber sometime in May, 1996.  It was reported that the exploration would be led by an Egyptian, Dr Farouk El-Baz with help from a Canadian team.

Nothing seemed to happen and for the next couple of year no public statements were released by Dr.  Hawass. 

Dr. Hawass appeared on The Art Bell Show in January of 1998.  He stated that he hoped to get beyond the door by May of 1998.  Again, nothing happened and no public statements were released.

In late 1998, there were rumors of another group developing the design of a new and more versatile robot to explore the shafts.  In fact one of the rumors was that the new robot was designed and would be operated by NASA personnel in late 1998 or the spring of 1999.  Also there were rumors of other groups that had proposals for the project.  Nothing more has been heard of these stories also.

As we approached the millennium, Hawass was reported as saying that the door will be opened during the millennium celebrations at the Giza plateau.  As far as we know, this never happened.

Thus it seems that the exploration of the Queen's chamber shaft and the alleged secret chamber is at a standstill, unless something is happening that the public is not aware of.  I doubt this is the case but we will report any new information as soon as we are aware of it.

 

References:

Giza The Truth, Ian Lawton and Chris Ogilvie-Herald, 1999.