The history of Giza before the 4th Dynasty pyramids were constructed is rarely discussed, and is often overlooked or completely disregarded, but in my opinion, the origins of Giza is a subject that should be studied more widely.

A pre-4th dynasty history of Giza is not easy to study for obvious reasons. It’s not just because of the lack of excavations and publications in the modern world; it’s also because Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure would have cleared the vast majority of pre-existing structures to make way for their funerary complexes. On top of that we have more activity at Giza in the 18th, 19th, 21st and 26th dynasties. The Greeks and the Romans were also at Giza.

Due to the colossal size of the pyramids, obviously Giza would have been a focal point for locals and outsiders ever since they were constructed. Therefore, finding evidence for activity before they were built is no easy task.

But there is more to find and I know exactly where to look.

Thanks to the work of Peter Der Manuelian and Diane Victoria Flores, we now know that George A. Reisner discovered Pre-Khufu archaeology to the west of the Great Pyramid - a now lost and buried site known as the Wadi Cemetery. Watch this video to learn more as the lost history of Giza is revealed.