Egypt discovers new tombs near pyramids
19:57, 10 January 2010
CAIRO. January 10. KAZINFORM A collection of tombs that belong to workers who built Khufu's pyramid has been discovered in the area of the workmen's tombs on the Giza plateau, a statement issued on Sunday by the Culture Ministry said, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
According to the statement, the tombs were found by an Egyptian excavation team led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).
"The tombs are dated to the 4th Dynasty and belong to workmen who built the pyramids of Khufu (2609-2584 BC) and Khafre (2576-2551 BC)," Hawass said.
"These tombs were built beside the king's pyramid, which indicates that these people were not by any means slaves. If they were slaves, they would not have been able to build their tombs beside their king's," concluded Hawass, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.