Numerous myths about the Giza pyramids have been dispelled through archaeology; that they were not built by slaves, Jewish or otherwise, would be the most prominent example. A worker's village was uncovered that included communal eating areas, housing, and cemeteries that indicated the workers were compensated for their tremendous efforts. Remains in the cemetery include signs that injuries were treated, and broken bones mended in what was top-notch medical care for the day. The graves of supervisors listed their job titles, and the topmost bureaucrats had elaborate inscriptions in tombs designed for them. Work crews labeled stones in the pyramid themselves, and inscriptions indicate various crews competed against each other with prizes and honors for the greatest number of stones laid. In fact, the workers' presence is so well documented through graffiti and grave inscriptions in the cemeteries that surround the pyramids, their number and obvious pride in their work underscores the lack of official inscriptions to support the idea that they were built as tombs for a single pharaoh.
Take Khufu's pyramid, for example. The only sign that structure is linked to Khufu comes from graffiti hidden in the upper parts of what has been called the "king's chamber" that was not meant to be seen. It was only by tunneling through ceiling stones in pursuit of treasure that early European explorers even found these structural voids, the uppermost of which contains the stained words "friends of Khufu" or something to that effect, designating which work crew set the stone. What Egyptologists call the king's chamber, thought to be the resting place of Khufu's remains before grave robbers and looters cleared the room, doesn't contain a single heiroglyph or inscription to note the occupant of the tomb. Choose any of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and the walls are decorated with stories depicting the king in life, scenes of battles, family, or other achievements. Pick any obelisk or temple, and within minutes you can locate the name of the king that erected it as well as their reasons for doing so. None of the three great pyramids contain the same inscriptions. Even the stone sarcophagus in Khufu's pyramid is devoid of word of its supposed occupant. An obelisk erected in a few months is covered in inscriptions, but a mountain of stone erected by men over an estimated 20 years for the singular purpose of giving the king a final resting place contains none? What gives?
There is a school of thought that the pyramids were actually public works projects. With their alignment on the compass, as well as shafts pointed at various contellations, the pyramids could be intepreted as "resurrection machines" built to allow a person a speedy transition to the afterlife. Used by the royal family, but open to use from others as well, a body would likely rest in the pyramid for a particular length of time, before their mortal remains are interred in the necropolis that surrounds the pyramids. In the case of royalty, perhaps their bodies would move on to the Valley of the Kings after ceremonies in the pyramids. Given the lack of inscription or claim of ownership, the public works idea makes sense. If they were built for community uses, no individual's name would belong on the project. It also explains why Khufu's alleged sarcophagus has no lid; rather than being taken away by grave robbers (silly on its face since it would have been tremendous in weight, with little monetary value) there in fact was no lid, since the sarcophagus was not meant to be sealed.
As a final note, under this new paradigm the roles ascribed to the various chambers need to be
reassessed, since the roles were created with the idea that this was the final resting place for a king and his queen.
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