A preliminary investigation, employing a novel technique for dating ancient structures, suggests that the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza might predate the established timeline of conventional Egyptology by tens of thousands of years.
The author of this study, and the originator of the Relative Erosion Method (REM), is Italian engineer Alberto Donini. The core concept is straightforward: stone deteriorates over time. The longer it remains exposed to rain, wind, temperature fluctuations, and other environmental factors, the more pronounced the wear becomes.
Donini applied this principle to the Giza pyramids, specifically the Pyramid of Khufu. His starting reference point is a documented historical event: the removal and repurposing of the pyramid’s original bright, polished limestone casing blocks as building material in Cairo following a major earthquake in 1303 CE and throughout the subsequent century. Therefore, the report notes that, on average, the facing stones of the Giza pyramids were stripped away approximately 675 years prior to the present day (relative to 2025 CE).
This scenario establishes an ideal, natural benchmark for measurements. At the base of the Pyramid of Khufu, some remnants of the original paving remain. One section of this paving was shielded from environmental exposure for millennia, covered by the casing blocks, and only began weathering after their removal (around 675 years ago). Conversely, an adjacent segment of the identical paving has been openly exposed since the monument’s construction.
The REM technique essentially involves comparing the weathering experienced by these two areas of the same rock type in the same location. By quantifying the erosion on the section exposed for 675 years against the erosion on the section exposed since the structure’s erection, and assuming a steady rate of decay, an estimation of the total age can be derived. As Donini clarifies: “The volume of material lost must be proportional to the duration of exposure to erosive processes. Based on the ratio between these two types of erosion, the probable construction date of the structure can be calculated.”
The study identifies two primary categories of decay observed in the Giza limestone:
Pitting Erosion: Small depressions or voids on the rock surface, primarily resulting from chemical actions (salts, acidic rain) or physical stresses (freeze-thaw cycles, plant roots).
Uniform Erosion: Wear that imparts a smooth, level, or laminated appearance to the rock, often caused by wind carrying sand or constant human traffic.
For his calculations, Donini used measurements from both wear types. In certain spots, he meticulously measured the total volume (in cubic millimeters) of all erosional cavities across each sampled area. In other locations, where uniform abrasion predominated, he measured the average reduction in the slab’s thickness (in millimeters).
The engineer selected twelve distinct locations at the base of the Pyramid of Khufu to conduct comparative measurements. Each site yielded slightly different provisional dates, which the researcher anticipated given the numerous variables affecting erosion (orientation, microclimate, rock defects). However, the mean of all these measurements is deemed to offer the most reliable estimate.
Upon processing the average of the twelve figures, the study arrives at its principal finding: the arithmetic mean… of the 12 values calculated for the Ahet-Khufu pyramid is 24,941 years before the present. This corresponds to roughly 22,941 BCE.
To validate this result further, Donini conducted a statistical assessment by plotting a “Gaussian curve” from his data. According to this analysis, he posits a 68.2% probability that the construction period of the Ahet-Khufu pyramid falls between 10,979 and 38,903 BCE. In calendar terms, this translates to a high likelihood that the pyramid was erected between 8,954 and 36,878 BCE, with an approximate central value around 22,916 BCE.
Donini is explicit regarding the limitations of his approach and its inherent uncertainties. The REM technique is not intended to specify an exact date but rather to establish a plausible timeframe along with a probability distribution. Factors noted in the report that could skew the calculations include:
The assumption of a constant rate of erosion may be inaccurate.
Erosion caused by modern tourist traffic is likely far more intense than in ancient times, potentially suggesting a younger appearance for the structure.
Acid rain, a contemporary phenomenon, may have intensified erosion in recent centuries, producing a similar effect.
It is conceivable that the pyramid bases were partially buried by desert sand for extended periods in the past, protecting them from erosion and giving the misleading impression of more recent construction.
Natural variations within the rock make consistent measurement challenging.
Donini states that, “Due to the presence of several unquantifiable factors in the REM model that could have altered the rate of erosion over time, I believe the results obtained only indicate the order of magnitude of the construction period, rather than a precise date.”
Despite the acknowledged ambiguities, the derived averages carry significant implications, and the author does not hesitate to draw provocative conclusions based on his findings.
The final statement of the report asserts plainly: while the resulting date ranges are quite vast, the outcomes suggest that the official archaeological dating of 2560 BCE is statistically improbable. In other words, this method deems the conventionally accepted time for the Great Pyramid’s construction (during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu, circa 2500 BCE) to be highly unlikely.
Donini advances this further: “For these reasons, it is highly probable that the Ahet-Khufu pyramids date to approximately 23,000 BCE.” This assertion leads to a revolutionary hypothesis: consequently, it is plausible that Pharaoh Khufu merely undertook the restoration of the Khufu pyramid, effectively claiming its authorship.
The report’s concluding sentence summarizes what the researcher views as its most sweeping historical significance: based on this preliminary report of Relative Erosion Measurements (REM) taken on the Pyramid of Khufu, one can deduce that a civilization capable of building, at minimum, the Khufu pyramid existed in Egypt roughly 20,000 years before the common era.
Alberto Donini emphasizes that this is a “preliminary report.” He intends to pursue further research, extending the measurements to all structures on the Giza Plateau and refining the precision of the method.
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