The video argues that vertical erosion on the Sphinx enclosure came from long-term rainfall runoff rather than Nile flooding. It places the enclosure floor at 20–22m above sea level and the higher western and southern walls above 30m, and cites Cairo flood readings of about 7.6m and a maximum near 8.4m. It also argues against Mediterranean flooding, noting that Pliocene sea level was around 30m higher roughly 3 million years ago, while it remained lower through most of the past 25,000 years. The video says the enclosure concentrated runoff from the plateau, cites geologist Jørn Christiansen on its right-angled, roughly 10m-high walls, and cites Robert Schoch’s description of the rectangular excavated basin.
Video argues Sphinx erosion came from rainfall, not Nile flooding
EgyptTheory
Key facts
- The video argues that vertical erosion on the Sphinx enclosure was caused by long-term rainwater runoff rather than Nile flooding.
- It places the enclosure floor at 20–22m above sea level and the higher western and southern walls above 30m.
- It cites historical Cairo flood readings of about 7.6m and a maximum near 8.4m, and argues they were too low to inundate the enclosure.
- It argues against Mediterranean flooding, noting that Pliocene sea level was around 30m higher roughly 3 million years ago and remained lower through most of the past 25,000 years.
- It says the plateau slopes east toward the Nile and that the enclosure’s position concentrated runoff from a large area.
- The video cites geologist Jørn Christiansen’s view that the right-angled enclosure walls, reaching about 10m in height, indicate human construction.
- It cites Robert Schoch’s description of the roughly rectangular excavated basin, which reaches about 10m deep.
Sources
The Great Sphinx - Robert M. Schochrobertschoch.com
5) The vertical fissures observed in the walls of the Sphinx Enclosure show diagnostic signs of having been formed by precipitation and water runoff. They do ...
Sphinx water erosion hypothesis - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The Sphinx water erosion hypothesis is a fringe claim, contending that the Great Sphinx of Giza and its enclosing walls show erosion consistent with ...
The Sphinx Controversy: Another Look at the Geological Evidencehallofmaat.com
Dr. Schoch interprets seismic profiles made on all sides of the Sphinx as indicating that a zone of weathered limestone exists below the floor of the enclosure ...
The Great Sphinx of Egypt: Nature's Shabby-Chic Trick?geoexpro.com
Great Sphinx and its surrounding enclosure walls at the Giza appear to have been exposed to severe water erosion over a long period of time,
Redating the Sphinx: Reflections on the Geologydavidpbillington.net
The rock of the Sphinx and the walls is criss-crossed with vertical or diagonal joints (fractures) and erosion has widened many of these into fissures. But the ...
The Sphinx: Its History, Stories and Constructionafricame.factsanddetails.com
Situated in a pit on the Nile side of the Pyramids, it is 74 meters (242 feet) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high and is reached by walking through a temple made ...
The Great Sphinx Erosion Debate: Rain or Sand?thearchaeologist.org
Proponents of the water erosion theory argue that the Sphinx's erosion patterns were caused by prolonged exposure to heavy rainfall, suggesting ...
The Great Sphinx of Giza|AERAaeraweb.org
Mark Lehner as field director, this project produced the first detailed scale plans of the Sphinx—a master plan, top plans, elevations, sections, and profiles.
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