The Unfinished Pyramid of Zawyet el-Aryan
It is well known that Egypt has many more pyramids than the three famous ones on the Giza plateau. However, fewer people are aware of the neglected, little-known archaeological sites that are believed to have been pyramids but likely served other purposes. These sites present us with places that traditional archaeology try to explain, yet their true nature remains far from fully understood.
This is exemplified by the two pyramids at Zawyet el-Aryan: the Unfinished Pyramid and the Layer Pyramid. Let's explore what these sites are all about.
Two pyramids that perhaps weren't pyramids
The sands of the Egyptian desert still conceal many secrets, some yet to be discovered and others that remain enigmatic despite having been unearthed. Today, we delve into one of the most mysterious sites, a place currently inaccessible for further study. The area of Zawyet el-Aryan, home to the two alleged pyramids, is now a military zone, off-limits to civilians, tourists, and scholars alike. Thus, we must rely on the reports of those fortunate enough to have visited these ruins in the past.
Located in the Giza and not far from the most renowned monuments of Ancient Egypt, Zawyet el-Aryan hosts a necropolis comprising five cemeteries and two sites interpreted as unfinished pyramids. Initial explorations of this area date back to the second half of the nineteenth century when these structures were rediscovered. They received more thorough study in the early twentieth century, but interest waned until the 1960s, when the area was militarized and faded into obscurity.
One might assume that the lack of subsequent excavation campaigns indicates a lack of significant findings at these alleged pyramids. However, this site holds many intriguing and unclear elements that demand further exploration. For instance, the sheer scale of the so-called "Unfinished Pyramid" was impressive enough to serve as a filming location for a Hollywood blockbuster, indicating its substantial importance. Nonetheless, this site has posed significant challenges for Egyptologists, who are often reluctant to revisit established interpretations of Ancient Egyptian history.
The two pseudo pyramids of Zawyet el-Aryan
The archaeological area at Zawyet el-Aryan was a cemetery. It includes five mastabas, typical funerary constructions, and two major sites cataloged as unfinished pyramids. The first is known as the "Layer Pyramid," located about 8 kilometers southwest of Giza. It was explored multiple times between 1839 and 1911, yet archaeologists have disagreed on its dimensions and the number of rooms it may have originally contained. It appears to have been abandoned during construction, possibly due to the premature death of the pharaoh. No grave goods or mummies were found inside, and it resembles a hill of debris with only partially explored underground rooms.
The most intriguing structure, however, is the second one, referred to as the "Unfinished Pyramid." Located in the northern area of Zawyet el-Aryan, it appears as a huge monumental corridor descending to underground rooms. It is commonly dated to the Old Kingdom, approximately four to five thousand years ago. The alleged pyramid was first described by Karl Richard Lepsius between 1842 and 1846, but the most thorough exploration was conducted by an Italian researcher, Alessandro Barsanti, in the early 20th century.
Barsanti was struck by the grandeur of the site. He documented his discoveries with numerous photos and drawings, published in the "Annales du Service des antiquités de l'Égypte" in French. His reports provide the foundation for much of our current understanding and speculation. One significant point from Barsanti's investigations is his skepticism about the structure being part of a pyramid that was never completed.
The pyramid that wasn't a pyramid
The discovery of the "Unfinished Pyramid" (as we will call it for convenience) occurred, according to Barsanti, by chance. After examining the Layer Pyramid without finding anything particularly noteworthy, Barsanti and his guide were returning to Giza when they noticed some granite fragments. Climbing a hill, the archaeologist spotted a rectangular building, some limestone blocks, and a canal running in a north-south direction. Although Lepsius had sighted these structures years earlier, Barsanti was enormously intrigued by them. The next day, he returned with 50 men to start excavations.
It was 1900. Recognizing that the site hid much more than was visible to the naked eye, Barsanti returned four years later, and on March 1st, he began the actual excavation campaign, the only one conducted in this then-forgotten place. Subsequent visitors to the unfinished pyramid of Zawyet el-Aryan, such as Maragioglio and Rinaldi, made only superficial observations. Barsanti, an experienced archaeologist known for uncovering the tomb of Pharaoh Akhenaten, was confident he had encountered another significant discovery.
First, the large corridor had to be cleared of sand. Despite Barsanti's efforts to build a wall to prevent the pit from filling up again, the desert wind constantly thwarted the excavation. There was much to explore around the main corridor as well, but limited funds forced Barsanti to concentrate on this area. The walls were constructed of limestone blocks measuring 2 meters long and 3.5 meters high.
Down the corridor of Zawyet el-Aryan
What later turned out to be a corridor had been filled with waste materials, covered in graffiti and engravings. Among these inscriptions, there is often a cartouche that presumably names the pharaoh for whom the pyramid was built, but it remains indecipherable, leaving the identity of the site's commissioner a mystery.
The dimensions of the pit are impressive. Barsanti calculated that it contained 4,200 cubic meters of rocks, some weighing up to 3 to 4 tons. As he continued to remove material, also encountering granite blocks, Barsanti became convinced that he had reached the entrance to the burial chamber.
He was mistaken. There were still more granite blocks to remove. It was February 1905 when Barsanti and his team finally reached the bottom of the great corridor. Soon, they would uncover the most astonishing artifact of the expedition. On March 12, 1905, they discovered what is now called the oval sarcophagus. This large granite block, with a sealed lid, had an unusual oval shape and was hollow, resembling a tub. Upon opening it, they found remnants of a liquid that once filled it. Unfortunately, the nature of this liquid remains unknown.
This "sarcophagus" (a term we use for convenience, though it was likely something entirely different) measured over 3 meters in length, 1.5 meters in depth, and 2.2 meters in width. The size of the block suggested it must have been placed there before the corridor was built, as it would not have fit through it otherwise. Shortly thereafter, the excavations took a turn for the worse. A terrible storm struck the site, flooding it and halting further progress.
The end of the excavations and the beginning of oblivion
Barsanti, however, remained undeterred. Convinced that the carefully placed granite blocks sealing the passages beneath the oval sarcophagus concealed the true sarcophagus, he persisted with his excavation campaigns on several occasions until 1911. However, the outbreak of war redirected his focus elsewhere. Tragically, Barsanti passed away in 1917, never having satisfied his curiosity. Despite his relentless efforts, he had failed to unravel the heart of the mystery surrounding the unfinished pyramid of Zawyet el-Aryan. Is this the end of the story?
In some respects, yes. As previously mentioned, there was only one additional research campaign, which yielded no significant advancements beyond Barsanti's discoveries. In 1955, the grand corridor of Zawyet el-Aryan was showcased in its splendor in the film production "Land of the Pharaohs" (1955). Through the film's imagery, one can grasp the sheer magnitude of the structure, yet its intended purpose remains unknown to this day. While Barsanti speculated it could have been a mastaba, others argue it was a pyramid. Presently, further investigation is impossible as the area is closed to the public, and the corridor is believed to be once again filled with debris and ruins.
It is indeed puzzling that a site of such significance has been left abandoned. Could it be that no one was willing to continue Barsanti's work, despite his conviction that the most intriguing discoveries were yet to come? Perhaps someone did continue his excavations, or maybe there is apprehension about what might be uncovered.
What is really hidden in Zawyet el-Aryn
So many questions and so few answers, leaving us with more mysteries than certainties in the realm of Ancient Egypt. Yet, we can venture some hypotheses regarding what lies hidden beneath Zawyet el-Aryan, drawing upon numerous conjectures put forth over the years regarding this and other archaeological anomalies.
One intriguing hypothesis suggests that the great pyramids of Giza served a purpose beyond mere tombs, hinting at the possibility of another piece of the puzzle lying within Zawyet el-Aryan. Supporters of the existence of Atlantis propose that this ancient civilization constructed a network of structures worldwide capable of harnessing energy—perhaps tapping into the Earth's magnetism or underground water flows. Speculation suggests that this energy may have spiraled out of control, leading to Atlantis's demise. The vast pit of Zawyet el-Aryan could be part of this circuit, along with its enigmatic oval sarcophagus. While there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, there is similarly scant evidence to definitively classify the site as an unfinished pyramid.
Alternatively, there are clues scattered throughout history that hint at another narrative—one involving giant beings capable of manipulating massive boulders through the power of magnetism or sound vibrations. These ancient seafarers may have possessed knowledge akin to atomic energy, leaving behind monumental constructions whose true purpose has faded with time. Perhaps beneath Zawyet el-Aryan lies not just a clue, but conclusive evidence that could finally provide answers to our many inscrutable questions about humanity's past.
