Hawass Opens Int'l l Workshop on Pyramids with Insightful Address
Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass delivered the opening address at a major international workshop hosted by the International Association of Egyptologists, dedicated to the latest research and discoveries related to Egypt's pyramids.
In his keynote speech, Hawass recounted his decades-long journey exploring Egypt's ancient wonders, beginning with his tenure as Director of the Giza Plateau and extending to recent excavations at Saqqara in search of the elusive pyramid of King Huni.
He firmly dismissed long-standing myths about the pyramids, emphasizing that both the Giza pyramids and the Great Sphinx are built on solid limestone bedrock.
In the same context, he clarified there is no evidence of deep shafts or hidden chambers beneath the Pyramid of Khafre, contrary to popular speculation.
The workshop also featured a lecture by Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, who shared insights from his excavation of the Pyramid of Sahure at Abusir.
He underscored the advanced architectural planning of the Fifth Dynasty pyramids and stressed the importance of relying on scientific research rather than unsupported theories.
In turn, Dr. Tawfik, President of the International Association of Egyptologists, highlighted that the workshop brought together over 100 Egyptologists and experts from around the world, both in person and virtually. The event showcased groundbreaking discoveries that shed light on the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian engineering—most notably, the logistics behind the construction of the Great Pyramid of Khufu.
Among the most significant contributions was a presentation by Dr. Pierre Tallet, Director of the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo, who discussed the Wadi al-Jarf papyri. Discovered along the Red Sea, the ancient documents offer rare firsthand accounts of the transport and organization behind the pyramid's construction.
The workshop provided a vital platform for scholarly exchange and reinforced the global fascination with Egypt's ancient heritage, as well as the continued efforts to unravel its many enduring mysteries.
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Conversely, the preservation of the man's body in a pottery vessel deep within the mountain for thousands of years provided moderate and dry environmental conditions that prevented the degradation of his genetic material over such a long period," he said. Pottery vessel in which the Nuwayrat individual was discovered. Image courtesy of the Garstang Museum of Archaeology, University of Liverpool. As in Morez, A. (2025). Nature. A potter's life etched in bone According to the study, skeletal analysis revealed the individual was a male of average height, likely a potter, evidenced by signs indicating prolonged sitting in a specific posture with extended arms and legs on a hard surface. He also suffered from severe arthritis in his neck. While circumstantial, this aligns with the demands of pottery. This theory is further supported by unusual wear patterns on several toe bones and the arch of his right foot, which likely indicates that he operated a potter's wheel. 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Facial reconstruction of the individual from Nuwayrat using 3D scan data of the skull and analysis of the bones. The skull and idea of his face are overlaid to create one image. Credit: Caroline Wilkinson, Liverpool John Moores University. As in Morez, A. (2025). Nature. Egyptian scientists weigh in Dr Khaled Amer, principal investigator of the Egyptian Genome Project, emphasised the importance of this recently published research. He noted that the ability to extract a complete genome from the teeth of an Egyptian who lived between 4,500 and 4,800 years ago is a pivotal technical achievement, representing the oldest such case in the study of ancient Egyptian genomes. Moreover, this study focuses on an ordinary ancient Egyptian, not a member of the nobility. 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Gad also noted that comparing the genomic data of this ancient Egyptian with that of various ethnic groups across a vast timeline showed that he carried significant genetic contributions from North African genomes, with a smaller proportion from the Fertile Crescent. However, as the article mentions, the studied individual is just one person, and his genetic profile represents his family lineage, which should not lead to broad generalisations about the genetic makeup of ancient or modern Egyptians. The limited published works on genetic studies of ancient and modern Egyptian citizens indicate a highly diverse population that carries genetic contributions from many human groups throughout its recorded history spanning over 5,000 years. This is linked to Egypt's position as an important hub and melting pot for many of the world's ethnicities throughout history. 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Therefore, it is crucial for research to continue on more samples, mummified and non-mummified, to achieve a better assessment of the genetic origins of ancient Egyptians and their connection to factors of influence and interaction with all races in different parts of the world," he added. Geographic location of the Nuwayrat cemetery (red dot), and the previously sequenced Third Intermediate period individuals from Abusir-el Meleq (purple diamond). Credit: Adeline Morez. As in Morez, A. (2025). Nature. Pottery vessel in which the Nuwayrat individual was discovered. Image courtesy of the Garstang Museum of Archaeology, University of Liverpool. As in Morez, A. (2025). Nature. Rock-cut tombs at Nuwayrat enclosing the pottery vessel containing the pottery coffin burial. Image courtesy of the Garstang Museum of Archaeology, University of Liverpool. As in Morez, A. (2025). Nature. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
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