Vol.13.p.308

Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 308

The so-called "Trial Passages" of Petrie, east of the Great Pyramid.

North of the Khufu boat, on a north-south axis, there is what was taken by Petrie for a system of Trial Passages, closely resembling on a smaller scale, the system used in the Great Pyramid.
These are now seen to belong to another pyramid which was, above ground, completely destroyed by Khufu in building his causeway and excavating the boat. Its position is indicated on page 307 by a dotted outline, the area being a guess based on the idea of its proportional plan being the same at that in the Great Pyramid. Its west face must have nearly lined up with G I-a, G I-b, and G I-c. It has received the number of G I-e, although clearly earlier than G I in date.
Supposing that it is similar in plan to G I-d, the ruined temple foundations might be found by scraping the rock to the north, and the pit corresponding to G 7000 X might well be searched for in the neighborhood of the King's house.
The accompanying sketch sections are from Petrie, "Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh," plates III and IX. Compare also Vyse, "Pyramids of Gizeh", vol. II, page 130.

[ILLUSTRATION]

At the north, as Petrie remarks, the rock is cut to receive the sloping course of masonry, as occurs in most of the major buildings of the period at Giza.
The bottom of the descending passage appears unfinished.
This may point to the existence of a pit burial as in G 7000 X.
Col. Vyse quotes Perrings's suggestion that this may be connected with a pyramid foundation.
It is possible that the idea of the "well" is to provide a slot for a heavy portcullis to block the burial.

[ILLUSTRATION]

microfilm: end page 308