Back in the fall of 2020, it was excitedly reported a 5,000 year old artifact, one of only three relics ever discovered in the Great Pyramid, was ‘re-located’. The 2020 rediscovery of small fragments of cedar wood, found inside a cigar box, that was misplaced back in 1946, brought new attention to the Dixon Relics. The Dixon Relics are a trio of mysterious objects found in the Great Pyramid back in 1872.
Right from their initial discovery, this valuable trio was separated. The objects were found by Waynman Dixon, and his friend James Grant, while investigating the Great Pyramid in 1872. Dixon had kept two of the objects, which are now housed and displayed at the British Museum, but the pieces of wood were kept by Grant. These cedar fragments were later given to the University of Aberdeen by Grant’s family in 1946. However, at that time they were not catalogued correctly and went missing for over 70 years. Fortunately, they have now been found in the University’s museum collections, and can be reunited.
The Dixon Relics were found inside the air shafts leading from the Queen’s Chamber inside the Great Pyramid. The three objects are described as a small stone ball, a copper hook, and cedar wood fragments.
The hook was found in the south shaft, while the stone ball and wood were found in the north shaft. It is now thought, upon further exploring, that the cedar fragments are part of a larger piece of wood still in the shaft. Dixon and Grant may have merely taken pieces from this larger item.
Exactly what the relics are is debated. Theories range from foundational ritual objects to sacred astronomical tools to construction materials.
The two items displayed at the British Museum, the ball and hook, are listed as ‘offerings dating to the age of Khufu, they were either genuine tools or models of tools and are similar to objects discovered in foundation deposits. They may have been placed in the air shaft at Giza to allow the deceased king to magically open the passage and return to heaven.’
This explanation is not anywhere near certain, however, and so the mystery of the objects remain. Were they intentionally left behind or were they forgotten tools? Might they be something else?
What is known today, thankfully, is all three of the Dixon Relic’s locations.