Hidden away for decades in a dusty cigar box at the University of Aberdeen, a mysterious artifact has finally emerged from obscurity. This 5,000-year-old piece of cedar wood, traced back to Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza, is more than just timber — it’s a tangible link to ancient engineering marvels and forgotten histories that continue to fascinate scholars and the public alike.
Unearthing the Dixon Relic: A Hidden Chapter of Egyptology
The rediscovery of this rare cedar fragment, known as part of the Dixon relics, has reignited interest in one of archaeology’s most intriguing stories. These relics, taken in 1872 from inside the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid — one of only three known artifacts ever removed from that sacred space — hold invaluable clues about the pyramid’s construction. Abeer Eladany, an archaeologist with extensive experience in Egyptian excavations, made the remarkable find while cataloging the university’s sprawling archives.
“Once I looked into the numbers in our Egypt records, I instantly knew what it was, and that it had effectively been hidden in plain sight in the wrong collection,” Eladany recalled. “I’m an archaeologist who has worked on digs in Egypt, yet I never imagined I’d find something so important to my country’s heritage here in northeast Scotland.”
Neil Curtis, Head of Museums and Special Collections at the University of Aberdeen, described the moment he realized the artifact’s significance. “The University’s collections hold hundreds of thousands of items. Finding this cedar fragment in an innocuous cigar tin felt like finding a needle in a haystack.”
The Cedar Fragment’s Insights Into Ancient Egypt’s Construction
Radiocarbon dating reveals that the wood dates between 3341 and 3094 B.C., predating the Great Pyramid itself by about 500 years. This unexpected finding opens new questions about the fragment’s role. Experts suggest it was likely a measuring tool or survey marker during the pyramid’s construction, shedding light on the ancient Egyptians’ architectural techniques. The scarcity of timber in Egypt possibly made this wood highly prized and reused, amplifying its historical value.
“This fragment is even older than we thought,” Curtis explained. “It may have come from the center of a long-lived cedar tree, or it reflects how precious and scarce wood was in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians took great care to recycle valuable materials.”
Dr. Salima Ikram, a leading Egyptologist, remarked in a 2023 interview that “artifacts like this provide a rare glimpse into practical aspects of pyramid-building — beyond the grandeur — helping historians piece together ancient technologies.”
The Complex Legacy of the Dixon Relics and Archaeological Ethics
The journey of these relics also offers a window into the complicated history of archaeology in the 19th century. Excavators Waynman Dixon and James Grant originally removed the artifacts under permission from the Egyptian Antiquities Service. However, their actions reflect an era when many items were taken from their cultural contexts and placed in European institutions, often without consideration for their original significance.
Following Grant’s death in 1895, his collection was donated to the University of Aberdeen, but the cedar fragment slipped into obscurity, misfiled and forgotten for decades. This story highlights ongoing discussions in the field of cultural heritage about artifact ownership and the responsibility museums have in representing source cultures ethically.
According to a British Museum report on decolonizing museum collections, institutions are increasingly engaged in repatriation and re-examination of provenance records for artifacts acquired during colonial times, aiming to respect the cultural significance and rights of originating communities.
Why This Discovery Still Matters Today
This small yet pivotal piece of cedar connects modern scholarship to a civilization that shaped human history with its architectural wonders and scientific ingenuity. It reminds us that history is not just the grand narratives of kings and rulers but often lies hidden in the details — archived, misplaced, and waiting to be rediscovered by dedicated researchers.
Abeer Eladany’s find underscores the importance of meticulous archives and continued research, proving that even in well-studied institutions, history can emerge in surprising ways. It also serves as a call to action for museums and historians worldwide to review their collections with fresh eyes and respect for cultural heritage integrity.
How do you feel about these ancient artifacts residing far from their place of origin? Share your thoughts below, or pass along this story to anyone fascinated by history’s hidden treasures.