This is the problem when people in academia get into a pissing match. Here we have a story about a new expedition to send a robot up the shafts found in the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. We see an archival photo from 2002 and Dr. Zahi Hawass, the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, saying this was when “the first robot was sent.” There’s no mention of Rudolf Gantenbrink or his robot, Upuat 2, that were responsible for finding the “door” at the end of the southern shaft almost ten years earlier in 1993.
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Unfortunatly Zahi has a reputation for taking credit where credit is not due. This dosn’t surprise me at all. Hawass is also extremely patriotic about Egypt’s history. This is evident by his refusal to investigate new theories and ideas. A true academic looks at all ideas without bias and attempts to validate or refute them through reason, research and scientific pursuits. As seen in countless appearances, press conferences and documentaries he openly condemns and denies any research that goes against the status quo. His zeal and megalomania compound the problems and make any new research very difficult and somewhat political.
The bottom line is Hawass is Egyptian…he wants the discoveries, and more importantly the history of the area…to remain Egyptian. This is evident now in the case of Gantenbrink’s Door and will be in all future discoveries. This will undoubtedly halt any “fringe” research for the future…
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