Waynman Dixon (1844–1930) was a British engineer who worked on the Great Pyramid of Giza. He is also known for discovering the only Egyptian objects 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 relics 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 wall of the pyramid, though 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 retired from the company’s leadership 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 this 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 digging inside Khufu's pyramid, Dixon's team found two matching, closed shafts in the second chamber. Dixon believed these shafts might be similar to those already found in the first chamber. However, the shafts were sealed from the inside, leading Dixon to think they were not used for practical purposes during construction. Dixon hired a worker to break the seals with a chisel, but the chisel was lost inside both shafts.

In 1872, Dixon found a casing (outer) stone while the Egyptian government was clearing rubble for road work. 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, all three items were soon forgotten or lost. The wood was taken by Grant and later donated to the University of Aberdeen in 1946, where it was not properly recorded and became lost. In 2019, Egyptian archaeologist Abeer Eladany found the wood again and tested it to determine its age. The wood is estimated to be 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 might have been part of a measuring tool or offerings for the Pharaoh.

Cleopatra's Needle

Dixon and his brother, John, 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 towed to England after making a stop in Ferrol. Once in England, the obelisk was placed in London along the Thames. The entire process lasted 18 months.

Late life and death

Later in his life, Dixon worked with emergency service groups like the St. John Ambulance Association. There, he supported teaching people in mining and manufacturing villages how to give first aid because there were not enough doctors or hospitals in those areas. He believed that first aid education was inexpensive and would help people develop better character and kindness toward others who were suffering.

In 1924, Dixon encouraged more study of Khufu's pyramid. He suggested drilling small holes in the pyramid to learn more about it, saying this method could be done at a low cost.

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

Honours

In 1896, Dixon was appointed a Knight of Grace of the Venerable Order of St John (KStJ). He was awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John in 1900. In 1922, he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class, by the Emperor of Japan.