Decades before the great pyramids at Giza took shape, a modest stepped pyramid arose at a site now known as Edfu. Archaeologists from the University of Chicago have been studying the 4,600-year-old stone structure since 2010, gathering information about its purpose and attempting to protect it from modern encroachment.
Contrary to many news reports this week, this is not a new discovery. In fact, the pyramid’s existence has been known since at least 1894.
The archaeologists involved in the recent research declined to comment on their work. Because it is ongoing, “the archeologists don’t feel comfortable giving media interviews about the project at this time,” a university spokesperson wrote in an e-mail. Read more.