[gleeaikin]

“..but who built it?

What is the status of theories that they 3 pyramids may have been built much earlier, as well as the sphynx. I remember the theory that the sphinx might be at least 9 thousand years old becouse of signs of erosion down its side. If it was built back during a rainier period. If the pyramids were built around the same time, the concavity in the sides may have been a protection against rain erosion. Given Firestone’s theory about cosmic catastrophy, perhaps the “much older” hypothesis could use another look. Could there have been earlier civilizations that were destroyed in the aftermath?

[RightWhale]

Right. We do not have a clue who built it or the Sphinx. We do not have a clue what it was for. We do not have a clue how it was built. We do not have a clue when it was built.

[Coyoteman]

What is the status of theories that they 3 pyramids may have been built much earlier, as well as the sphynx. I remember the theory that the sphinx might be at least 9 thousand years old becouse of signs of erosion down its side. If it was built back during a rainier period. If the pyramids were built around the same time, the concavity in the sides may have been a protection against rain erosion. Given Firestone’s theory about cosmic catastrophy, perhaps the “much older” hypothesis could use another look. Could there have been earlier civilizations that were destroyed in the aftermath?

Unless some concrete evidence shows up, I would put those ideas with the ancient astronaut ideas -- and I wouldn't bet the rent money on either.

[SunkenCiv]

What is the status of theories that they 3 pyramids may have been built much earlier, as well as the sphynx. I remember the theory that the sphinx might be at least 9 thousand years old becouse of signs of erosion down its side. If it was built back during a rainier period. If the pyramids were built around the same time, the concavity in the sides may have been a protection against rain erosion. Given Firestone's theory about cosmic catastrophy, perhaps the "much older" hypothesis could use another look. Could there have been earlier civilizations that were destroyed in the aftermath?

Robert Schoch's analysis of the water erosion on the Sphinx and Dobecki's of subsurface weathering below the ground level (as well as the surviving New Kingdom copies of Old Kingdom documents) indicate that the Great Sphinx at Giza, and the Sphinx and Valley Temples are older than the Giza pyramids.

One of the early European archaeologists (I don't remember which one, although I guess I could try a hard drive search, or a web search) recorded what was left of a text (painted on?) surviving on plaster in the Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid, which referred to such-and-such a year of the cattle drive (the Egyptians didn't have a transcendental, theoretical calendar as we do) during the reign of Khufu, which does not, alas, survive.

Also (and much better known) in the corbel chambers over the "King's Chamber" there is some ancient graffiti, including the text (with cartouche, if memory serves) that sez, "how mighty is the 'Great White Crown of Khufu' (work) gang", left there by some literate supervisor of one of the construction teams.

The exterior of the Great Pyramid used to be dressed with nice smooth white limestone (some of that survives even on Khufu), and according to at least one ancient Greek source which survives (again, I forget who), those were carved with hieroglyphic text, I suppose it could have been something about the pharaoh, but also could have been the Pyramid Texts. Those stones probably still exist, but they were quarried for re-use in buildings of medieval Cairo. A couple of hundred years ago, the (probably unfinished) Pyramid of Khufu's elder son and successor (not Khafre), constructed at Abu Roash, was uncovered and used as a quarry. Not sure what Bauval would say about the impact of Khufu's son's pyramid not getting built at Giza, but I do know that I don't care.

Do a search for "Campbell's Tomb" site:freerepublic.com for more (I'm lazy).