Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo 2023 M600 LEADERBOARD

Ancient barque to be reconstructed for museum

by Renate Johns on 25 Feb 2012
Egypt Model of Khufu’s graceful solar barque SW
A Japanese University has provided a $10million grant to help see the reconstruction of one of the oldest known boats in the world, and the process has begun this week in Egypt, near the Giza Pyramid.

With the help of the grant from Waseda University archaeologists on Monday began restoration on the 4,500-year-old almost 140ft (43 metre) so-called 'solar barque', which has shown signs of being used during the life of its owner Khufu(King Cheops) but was apparently also meant to carry him into the afterlife.


Its 'sister' boat has already been restored and is housed in a specially built museum at the Giza pyramid complex since 1982. Its discovery was described as one of the greatest Ancient Egyptian discoveries in Zahi Hawass's documentary 'Egypt's Ten Greatest Discoveries'.

The boat was sealed into a pit in the Giza pyramid complex at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza around 2500 BC. The ship was almost certainly built for King Cheops, the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt.

King Cheops is credited with building the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the pyramids. Son of Snefru, he was the second ruler of the fourth Dynasty around 2680 B.C. and ruled Egypt for 23 years.

Both barques, made from Lebanese cedar and Egyptian acacia trees, were originally discovered in 1954.

The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Amin, said Egyptologists began taking samples of the wood for restoration on Monday.

'The boat was found in a complete shape, intact and in place,' he said, adding that the focus now is on taking samples of the wood.

Previously, experts had initially thought the vessel would be safer left underground than exposed to pollution, but evidence showed that pollution, water and insects had invaded the boat's chamber.

Now they said restoration would likely take about four years and that at its completion, the boat would be placed on display at the Solar Boat Museum near the pyramids, which routinely attract millions of tourists and boost one of Egypt's most important industries.

J Composites J/99Navico AUS Zeus3S FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Related Articles

New venue for Superyacht Cup Palma 2025
Europe's longest running superyacht regatta will be relocating to Club de Mar-Mallorca With a new venue, new entries and new racing classes, the Superyacht Cup Palma 2025 is on course for a spectacular 29th edition.
Posted today at 1:28 pm
Transat Café L'OR Cap Pour Elles 2025 routes
Four classes, four courses, four winning duos means four times the emotion On Sunday October 26, the ULTIM, the Ocean Fifty, the IMOCA, and the Class40 divisions will start their TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie at 15 minutes intervals.
Posted today at 11:42 am
Sailing legend returns to Sydney Harbour Regatta
'Wingnut' is returning to race at the Sydney Harbour Regatta The man they nicknamed 'Wingnut', the indefatigable Gordon Ingate OAM, is returning to race at the Nautilus Marine Insurance Sydney Harbour Regatta, being staged on the weekend of 1-2 March - just shy of his 99th birthday.
Posted today at 6:43 am
Foam-up forecast for 44Cup Nanny Cay Season opener
Of the nine teams competing, favourite is Vladimir Prosikhin's Team Nika It's why racing yachts congregate from all parts of the world in the Caribbean - incessant sunshine; stiff breeze, soaring temperatures, warm azure water all combining to provide an alluring cocktail with which to escape the freezing gloom of winter.
Posted on 12 Feb
2025 Rolex Fastnet Race - winners return
For this special edition, the RORC has reintroduced its once premier event, the Admiral's Cup For 2025, the Royal Ocean Racing Club celebrates both its own centenary and that of the Rolex Fastnet Race, the race upon which it was founded.
Posted on 12 Feb
IRC Rating open for 2025
The IRC rating system will remain largely unchanged for 2025. Applications are open for 2025 IRC Rating and the IRC Rating Authority (RORC Rating Office and UNCL, Pôle Course du YCF) have already issued certificates to over 650 northern hemisphere boats for the new season.
Posted on 12 Feb
Globe 580 Transat makes waves with record run
McIntyre Mini Globe set to make history! Third running of the 2025 Globe 580 Transat: Thrills, Spills, and Plenty of High-Seas Shenanigans in record time! Woop Woop!
Posted on 12 Feb
18ft Skiffs build up to the 'Big One'
Less than one month to go before the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship With less than one month to go before the JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff Championship is contested on Sydney Harbour, from March 8-16, next Sunday's Australian 18 Footers League Club Championship race is critical to the build-up for all teams from the League's fl
Posted on 12 Feb
Self-reliance and trust
Teams are into last minute jobs readying for the 2025 Melbourne Osaka Cup Teams are into last minute jobs readying for the 5500 nautical mile double-handed Melbourne Osaka Cup - the first yacht, Curious Roo, is due to depart on 2 March, ahead of the main start on 16 March & the final one on 30 March, with others in between.
Posted on 12 Feb
Women's WMRT announces 2025 season
Over 150 women match racing sailors are expected to compete this year The Women's World Match Racing Tour has announced its 2025 schedule of six events in four countries featuring events in the USA, France, Sweden and Bermuda.
Posted on 12 Feb