- The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh, Basalt and Diorite Casings, pg. 51Quote
”On the E. side of the Great Pyramid, among the rubbish near the smaller Pyramids, I found two pieces of the casing of a pyramid, each unique. These are now in the British Museum. One is a piece of a basalt casing stone, with three worked faces, i.e., two outer faces of a pyramid, and the horizontal joint below them; being, in fact, a bottom corner of a ridge casing stone. The fragment is about 7 inches high on the faces, and 5 inches wide along the base. The joint surface is beautifully worked, by pick-dressing slightly ground; being seldom over 1/50 inch from a true plane, and generally much less. The angle of slope must have been 50° 9’ ± 5', as determined by the angle of meeting of the faces; but the joint dipped down 1° 18', so that the angle of the block is 52° 27'. From this it seems probable that one of the smaller Pyramids had arris lines of basalt down each corner, to prevent wear and weathering; the general casing of all of these Pyramids was certainly limestone; as I picked up pieces (with the angle of slope) by each of them. The other remarkable piece of casing is a bottom corner, with an upright joint, of a diorite casing stone. The idea, even of arris lines being cased with a stone so valuable and difficult to work, is almost incredible; but this chip, some four inches long on the face, and one inch on the joint, cut to the regular angle (i.e., 52° 30' ± 10'), seems to admit of no other explanation. It therefore appears as if the small Pyramids of the family of Khufu were adorned with the protection of edges of the hardest and toughest stones, which embraced the faces of polished white limestone; an architectural effect quite new to our ideas…”
I have been unable to locate any reference of an ‘arris line’ corner stone in the British Museum’s collection donated by Petrie; that is not to suggest that it does not exist. However, there is one to a ”Fragment of limestone pyramid-casing, Excavated/Findspot: Pyramid of Khufu, subsidiary pyramid”. Oddly, the dimensions are listed as ”Length: 19 centimetres [7.48”] ”Diameter [?]: 18 centimetres” [7.09”]. Other than the excavation site and approximate size being similar, there is no other confirming information provided (”There is no image of this object, or there may be copyright restrictions”). Refer: Museum number: EA14278/Registration number: 1884,0810.29
There are two (2) “grey basalt pyramid-casing” fragments donated by Petrie, attributed to the Pyramid of Pepy I at Saqqara, also without images: EA14289, and EA14290.
Where is the Basalt Arris Stone; forgotten, lost or misplaced?
Dr. Troglodyte