A reconstruction of Knufu's solar boat on display at the boat museum, Giza plateau
CAIRO, EGYPT. The Egyptian-Japanese team that is working to recover Knufu's second solar boat from a pit near the Great Prymaid at Giza, have found a unique wooden beam and circular and U-shaped hooks made of metal. The beam is eight metres long, 40 centimetres wide and four centimetres thick, with a number of U and L shaped metal pieces scattered over its surface.
"This may be the beam that once held the oars of Khufu's second boat," Eissa Zidan, director of restoration for the Khufu Second Boat Project.
He explained that it is too early to decide the original function of the beam, but that experts are sure that it is unique and not found in Khufu's first solar boat, now on display in a special museum on the Giza Plateau.
Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany described the discovery as "very important" in revealing secrets about Khufu's boats. He said the Japanese team was working hard with their Egyptian colleagues to protect one of Egypt's most distinguished treasures. It is planned that when all the beams are lifted and restored, the boat will be reconstructed and put on display together with the first solar boat at the Grand Egyptian Museum.
For more information, see the full report from Ahram Online
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