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

Three items, called the "Dixon Relics," were found in the Great Pyramid. These include 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 pyramid’s outer wall, though they do not reach the outside.

Beyond his work in Egypt, Dixon managed Sir Raylton Dixon & Co, a shipbuilding company in Cleveland, alongside his brothers in Middlesbrough. He left his position on the company’s board in 1917. Later in life, he served as an honorary consul for 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 exploring Khufu's pyramid, Dixon's team discovered two identical, sealed shafts in the second chamber. Dixon believed these shafts might be similar to those 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 someone to break the seals with a chisel, but the chisel was lost in both shafts.

In 1872, Dixon found a casing (exterior) stone while the Egyptian government was clearing rubble for road work. This stone was the most complete example of a casing stone found at that time. It was identified 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 discovered 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 lost or forgotten. The cedar wood was taken by Grant and later donated to the University of Aberdeen in 1946, where it was not properly classified and was eventually lost. In 2019, Egyptian archaeologist Abeer Eladany rediscovered the wood and tested it with carbon dating, which estimated its creation date 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 might have been accidentally dropped into the pyramid’s channels. Later theories suggest the artifacts could have been part of a measuring tool or offerings for the Pharaoh.

Cleopatra's Needle

John Dixon and his brother suggested 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. During a storm, the boat was temporarily abandoned but was later towed to England after stopping at Ferrol. Once in England, the obelisk was placed in London along 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 how to give first aid because there were few doctors and hospitals in those areas. He believed this education was inexpensive and would help people develop kindness and understanding toward those in pain.

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

Dixon passed away on January 24, 1930, in Great Ayton.

Honours

In 1896, Dixon was named a 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.