[Although the following explanation for the internal layout of the Third Pyramid clearly contradicts my assertion that it shows evidence of replanning, it is in my view a valid alternative view from someone who "knows his stuff". I cannot argue against it as a possibility, and as such I present it here in order to honour my commitment not to withhold information that might contradict my own arguments if I feel it is valid. Readers should however remember that this is only another possible explanation with perhaps equal merit to that of replanning, and that the evidence for the possible replanning of the Great and Second Pyramids must be taken into account also - IL]

Dear Ian,

I have noted your slight skirmish with Bauval over the replanning of Menkaure's pyramid on the discussion site; and your views in G:TT pg 118. Firstly I am no great supporter of Bauval's theories, which I feel you have correctly dealt with at length, further Bauval gives no coherent explanation for the design that we see in Menkaure's structure today, whereas you have made a reasoned attempt to explain the structure in terms of replanning. Unlike Bauval I shall make an attempt that could explain the structure that could suggest no replanning.

The idea for this comes from the design of certain mastaba's at Giza, as you probably know a vertical shaft was sunk into the bedrock, and from the end of this shaft a horizontal or sloping passage led to a chamber hewn out of the rock, which could be lined with fine limestone. However sometimes we are met with two passages that branch off from the vertical shaft, the upper passage entering the chamber at or a little way below ceiling and the bottom passage at floor level. The upper passage of such mastaba's have been termed 'windows' , these windows according to Reisner would sometimes be "blocked with masonry on the inside by the lining of the tomb and on the outside by the rougher masonry, and had therefore some function connected with the excavation of the chamber. I have mentioned above the difficulty presented by the cutting of chambers with passage entering the chamber low down in the north wall." (A history of the Giza Necropolis volume 1, pg 163).

I would suggest therefore that the upper passage in Menkaure's may indeed be a type of window, used to facilitate the cutting of a large chamber and aid ventilation. Cutting down from the ceiling would be preferable, when they approached floor level they could then excavate the lower passage from the inside to the outside with the debris being removed via the upper passage. In a similar way the lower granite chamber could be said to have two passages leading to it. Once the chambers had been excavated the upper passage would have served it's purpose and like the mastaba windows would be blocked with masonry. Was the lower Granite chamber a change of plan or part of an original plan? It could well have been original, with the upper and lower passages that lead to it being cleverly concealed from the upper chamber, such that the original violaters on entering the upper chamber were probably only aware of the one chamber with possibly a sarcophagus in place in the recess in the west end of this chamber. Goods found in this upper chamber may have temporarily put robbers off from further exploration, but ultimately others would have eventually discovered the lower chamber, just as the upper chamber in the red was discovered.

Lehner's statement, "The upper passage was probably abandoned when the floor of the antechamber was lowered" appears somewhat vague and I am somewhat surprised that he has not seen the parallel in some of the surrounding mastaba's.

In conclusion the suggestion I offer above, provides an explanation to those who are not happy with the replanning theory. As I've said before nothing is ever clear cut about these structures.

Regards, Keith