Waynman Dixon (1844–1930) was a British engineer who worked on the Great Pyramid of Giza. He is known for discovering the only Egyptian artifacts found inside that pyramid.

The three items found in the Great Pyramid of Giza, called the "Dixon Relics," are tools: a small dolerite ball, a copper hook (both now in the British Museum in London), and a piece of cedar wood in the Marischal Museum in Aberdeen. These items were largely forgotten after their discovery. Dixon also found two shafts extending from the Queen’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid. These shafts are similar to those that connect the King’s Chamber to the outside of the pyramid, but they do not reach the outside.

In addition to his work in Egypt, Dixon managed Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, a shipbuilding company based in Cleveland, alongside his brothers in Middlesbrough. He left the company’s board in 1917. Later in life, he served as an honorary consul of Japan. One of his brothers, John Dixon (1835–1891), designed the cylinder used to transport Cleopatra’s Needle from Egypt to London. Waynman Dixon was responsible for building the cylinder around the obelisk. His other brother, Sir Raylton Dixon, was also an engineer and shipbuilder who later became the Mayor of Middlesbrough.

Discoveries within Khufu's Pyramid

In 1872, while exploring Khufu's pyramid, Dixon's team discovered two identical, sealed shafts in the second chamber. This exploration was based on Dixon's belief that the second chamber might contain shafts similar to those found in the first chamber. However, these shafts were closed from the inside, leading Dixon to believe they did not serve a practical role in the pyramid's construction. Dixon hired a worker to break the seals using a chisel, but the worker lost the chisel inside both shafts.

In 1872, Dixon found a casing stone (the outer layer of the pyramid) during Egyptian government efforts to remove rubble for road construction. This was the most complete casing stone discovered at that time. Experts identified it as part of Khufu's pyramid because its angle matched the pyramid's slope closely.

In 1879, Dixon measured the sarcophagus in the King’s chamber and found that some of its material had broken off since it was last measured in 1865.

The "Dixon Relics" are three items found by Dixon and James Grant inside Khufu’s pyramid: a copper hook, a dolerite ball, and pieces of cedar wood. The hook and ball are now in the British Museum. After their discovery, the relics were quickly forgotten or lost. The cedar wood was taken by Grant and later donated to the University of Aberdeen in 1946, where it was not properly cataloged and was lost in the collection. In 2019, Egyptian archaeologist Abeer Eladany rediscovered the wood, and it was carbon-dated to between 3341 and 3094 BCE, about 500 years before Khufu’s reign.

In 1880, Charles Piazzi Smyth wrote that the ball and hook were likely dropped into the pyramid by accident. Later theories suggest the items may have been part of a measuring tool or offerings for the Pharaoh.

Cleopatra's Needle

John and his brother Dixon proposed moving the obelisk called Cleopatra's Needle from Egypt to England. They used a boat designed by Benjamin Baker to guide the obelisk down the Nile to Alexandria. The boat was left behind during a storm but was later taken to England after a stop in Ferrol. Once in England, the obelisk was placed in London next to the Thames. The entire process took 18 months.

Late life and death

Later in his life, Dixon worked with emergency service groups like the St. John Ambulance Association. There, he promoted teaching people in mining and manufacturing villages about first aid because there were few doctors and hospitals in those areas. He believed that learning first aid was inexpensive and would help people develop kindness and understanding when others are in pain.

In 1924, Dixon supported more study of Khufu's pyramid. He suggested drilling small holes in the pyramid to explore it further, stating this method could be done for a low cost.

Dixon died on January 24, 1930, in Great Ayton.

Honours

In 1896, Dixon was given the title of Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ). In 1900, he received the Service Medal of the Order of St John. In 1922, he was given the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Third Class) by the Emperor of Japan.