How was Khufu’s Solar Ships discovered in 1954?

CAIRO – 26 May 2022: On May 26, 1954, engineer Kamal el-Malakh announced the discovery of King Khufu's Solar Ship and relics. This was considered one of the most important discoveries of the 20th century.

The two pits for the ships of King Khufu, called the Khufu Solar Ships (2551-2528 BC), were uncovered after having spent nearly 5000 years under the ground on the southern side of the Great Pyramid of Cheops, stirring a global storm of interest.

The story goes back to when the Egyptian engineer Kamal el-Malakh was cleaning and removing the rubble south of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. He uncovered two pits for two ships covered with blocks of fine limestone. Malakh also discovered that the Great Pyramid of Cheops has three other holes carved in the natural rock of the Giza plateau, taking the form of boats on the eastern side of the pyramid. Two of them are located on the southern and northern side of the mortuary temple, while the third hole is located north of the ascending road to the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

The boat was restored by the veteran Egyptian restorer Hajj Ahmed Youssef. The length of the boat is 43.4m, its maximum width is 5.9m, its depth is 1.78m, its papyrus-shaped bow is 6m high, and its stern is 7m high. The ship has ten oars, with five on each side, and their lengths range between 6.5 and 8.5 m; and a main cabin preceded by the captain’s cabin at the front of the boat. The rudder is two large oars, and the boat weighs about 45 tons.

Not a single metal nail was used in the manufacture of this compound. The ancient Egyptians used the method of ropes to form the parts of this large ship.