Osiris Shaft at Giza found empty of Old Kingdom material, reused 26th dynasty. The Osiris Shaft at Giza extends approximately 100 feet underground with four levels The shaft was first constructed in the Old Kingdom (6th dynasty) and later reused in the 26th dynasty (~600 BC) The sarcophagus on the lowest level was empty of Old Kingdom material - it was a symbolic burial for Osiris
The Osiris Shaft extends approximately 25 feet underground at Giza with three levels, located beneath the causeway of Khafre. Built during the Old Kingdom 6th dynasty, it was later reused around 600 BC in the 26th dynasty. The sarcophagus on the lowest level was empty of Old Kingdom material—it was a symbolic burial for Osiris. Skeletal remains found elsewhere in the shaft date to the 26th dynasty, roughly 2,000 years after original construction. Excavated by Zahi Hawass and his team in 1999, findings were published in academic articles, including a chapter in a book honoring David O'Connor freely available online.
Key Facts
- The Osiris Shaft at Giza extends approximately 100 feet underground with four levels
- The shaft was first constructed in the Old Kingdom (6th dynasty) and later reused in the 26th dynasty (~600 BC)
- The sarcophagus on the lowest level was empty of Old Kingdom material - it was a symbolic burial for Osiris
- Skeletal remains found in the shaft date to the 26th dynasty, 2,000 years after the shaft was constructed
- All findings were published in academic articles, including a chapter in a book honoring David O'Connor freely available online
Related site: Osiris Shaft — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Archaeologists React to Zahi Hawass on Piers Morgan Uncensored @FlintDibble by Inside Archaeology