Page 96 - HISTORY ANGKOR

D I S C O V E R I E S

KHUFU’S Great
Pyramid looms
over three smaller
pyramids. The tomb of
Hetepheres (G7000X)
was discovered near
G1a, the small, partially
collapsed pyramid.
ALAMY/ACI

Egypt and Sudan). In 1902 section of the huge site was Tutankhamun’s tomb had a U.S. news photographer
French Egyptologist Gaston awarded to Reisner. made Reisner realize the snap them—led to revela-
Maspero divided out the Reisner was working in power of public relations. tions in the London press
Giza plateau among the best the new era of 20th-century His decision to reseal the of a major new find. Specu-
excavators of the time, in a technology: He could use intact tomb (officially la- lation swirled that the tomb
bid to prevent looting and the telegraph to send trans- beled G7000X) was based was that of 4th-dynasty

deterioration. The central atlantic communiques with on several factors, includ- pharaoh Snefru. From Bos-
his team. ing his belief that he was ton, Reisner countered by
But he was the only person sufficiently asserting his belief that it
modern in competent to undertake the belonged to a royal woman.
another way full excavation. Reisner’s duties in the
too: Car- By delaying the dig un- U.S. delayed the reopening
ter’s stun- til he could travel to Egypt, of Tomb G7000X until Jan-
ning find of Reisner could also control uary 1926. On finally enter-
the narrative. Media rela- ing the chamber containing
tions were a key part of that the sarcophagus, Reisner
GOLD FALCON, TOMB OF HETEPHERES. process. Leaks from Reis- discovered that the gold-
EGYPTIAN MUSEUM, CAIRO
SCALA, FLORENCE ner’s own team—who let cased furniture inside was