The Effect Of Weathering Processes On The Rocks Of The Pyramids Of Dahshur, South Of Giza, Egypt: A Geoarchaeological Study (original) (raw)

2024, JNRID || ISSN 2984-8687 || © August 2024, Volume 2, Issue 8

In Egypt, the Pyramids of Dahshur are located approximately 20 km south of the Giza pyramids' plateau. The Dahshur area's geological setting conforms to standard geological formations. Research on the rocks of the pyramids holds significant scientific and practical importance, given that various environmental pollutants expose these coarse-grained rocks to weathering processes, which in turn impact people's health. The Dahshur area consists of The Bent Pyramid and The Red Pyramid. These pyramids are among the earliest and most important in Egypt's history. The current study conducts a geological and geoarchaeological in situ examination of the rocks (main chamber lining blocks) of the Dahshur Pyramids, with the aim of investigating the weathering features caused by rocks undergoing weathering processes. The current study provides a firsthand account of the rocks' behavior as experienced by the ancient Egyptian masons during their partial cutting for pyramid construction. They handled these rocks with utmost systematic and meticulous care to ascertain their future behavior, which is a crucial testament to the pharaonic civilization in Egypt, depending upon field observation as well as laboratory exams of the rock samples.