Expert: Ralph Salier - 8/9/2006

Question
Hi, I understand that the pyramids originally were covered differently than they appear today (with limestone). Could there be any undiscovered pyramids that still are covered in limestone (perhaps hidden by sand) or is it possible to see what they were like originally somewhere?

Answer
Hi Angus,

There are many pyramids in Egypt and in the Sudan (due south of Egypt) but the three on the Giza Plateau are the only major ones in Egypt.  The Pyramid of Kufu (Chopes) was at one time covered in white limestone.  There are a few remaining at the very peak of the pyramid.  We are aware that the skin of the pyramid was covered in this lime stone because of stories both ancient and more modern of this pyramid gleaming in  the sun.  Due to the nature of the building of these vast monuments they would be very hard  to hide in the sand so I quite honestly don't think that there may be a hidden one someplace.  

It seems to me that there is a "facsimily" of the great pyramid that was built someplace (1/3rd scale) as an experiment but I'm not sure what the status of this thing is.  I think it was done in Egypt by experimental archaeologists some 20 or so years ago to study the techniques used by the ancient Egyptians.  I would imagine that if you do a search on the internet, you may find some thing about this reconstruction.