It is called a solar boat by archaeologists because it resembles the vessels seen in tomb painting in which the sun-god makes his daily trip across the heavens. It is not clear whether the boat was buried for the sun-god or for the pharaoh's own journey across the heavens. Marks on the wood suggest that the boat had been sailed before being buried. It could bt that it served as the funerary barque, carrying the body of Khufu from Memphis to his tomb at Giza. A second similar boat was located in a nearby pit but has been left unexcavated.
The ropes in the above cases were original pieces found in the pit.
Outside the museum I got pressed into standing beside a camel as the camel driver took my picture. Of course he wanted payment but I got away with only giving him five Egyptian Pounds (about one dollar).
