In an unprecedented archaeological exhibition, the Grand Egyptian Museum has commenced the live reassembly of a 4,500-year-old cedarwood boat belonging to Pharaoh Khufu, allowing visitors to witness restoration history in the making. The 42-meter (137-foot) vessel, containing 1,650 individual wooden components, began its meticulous reconstruction process on Tuesday as dozens of observers watched the ceremony.
This extraordinary project represents one of two solar boats discovered in 1954 near the southern flank of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Restoration director Issa Zeidan confirmed the complex assembly would require approximately four years to complete, with the boat eventually joining its already-reconstructed twin already on display.
Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy hailed the initiative as “one of the most important restoration projects in the 21st century” during the unveiling ceremony. While the exact purpose of these ancient vessels remains debated among Egyptologists, prevailing theories suggest they served either as funeral transport for Khufu’s remains or as symbolic vessels for his spiritual journey with sun god Ra in the afterlife.
The $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), inaugurated last month as the world’s largest archaeological museum, now houses nearly 50,000 artifacts including the complete Tutankhamun collection. Strategically located near the Giza pyramids, the institution represents Egypt’s ambitious effort to revitalize its tourism sector and strengthen its economic recovery through cultural preservation.