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Pyramids Not Built by Slaves: Scientists

Tombs found near king's suggest laborers were free workers

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 10, 2010 4:55 PM CST

(Newser) – The Great Pyramids of Egypt were built not by slaves, as is commonly believed, but by free workers of such high status that their tombs lie near the king's. The laborers built the Khufu and Khafre pyramids, and the research made public today sheds new light on graffiti describing the workers as " friends of Khufu, " the chief archaeologist on the project tells Reuters.

"These tombs were built beside the king's pyramid, which indicates that these people were not by any means slaves," said the archaeologist. "If they were slaves, they would not have been able to build their tombs beside their king's."

In this undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, pottery and bones are seen in a tomb in Giza, Egypt.
In this undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010, pottery and bones are seen in a tomb in Giza, Egypt.   (AP Photo/Supreme Council of Antiquities)
Activists photograph the Pyramids on Sunday, Aug.9, 2009, during a march organized by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to encourage Egyptians to visit their monuments.
Activists photograph the Pyramids on Sunday, Aug.9, 2009, during a march organized by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities to encourage Egyptians to visit their monuments.   (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
Birds fly near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, Jan. 17, 2008.
Birds fly near the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, Jan. 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File)
An Egyptian soldier riding a camel guards a group of tourists watching the great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008.
An Egyptian soldier riding a camel guards a group of tourists watching the great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008.   (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
In this undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, newly discovered tombs of workers are seen in Giza, Egypt, with the Great Pyramid in the background.
In this undated photo released by the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities, newly discovered tombs of workers are seen in Giza, Egypt, with the Great Pyramid in the background.   (AP Photo/Supreme Council of Antiquities)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 44 comments
troy705
Aug 12, 2012 9:58 AM CDT
Here's the deal. You work everyday in the blazing heat for very little wages and if you do a good job you get to be buried at my feet. I get all the goodies and you end up with nothing. Sounds like a Romney back to work program.
Guest
Jan 22, 2010 2:44 AM CST
Without a doubt, the *engineers* and *supervisors* who made sure these structures got built and would last... no doubt they were honored. The tens of thousands of nameless slaves who did the actual sweat work, I can guarantee their final resting places were not among those found in such proximity!
Rob
Jan 13, 2010 12:26 PM CST
@www You are still not getting it. Your're wrong and tha fact that slavery is wrong doesn't make you right.

 
archaeology • slave labor • Egypt • Pyramids • slavery • ancient Egypt • ancient Egyptians • archaeologist • Khufu pyramid • Khafre pyramid

 
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