Two
rectangular boat pits found on the south side of the Great
Pyramid were discovered in 1954, covered by huge limestone
slabs, containing the dismantled remains of two Royal Boats.
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It
is thought that these boats transported Khufu's body to
his pyramid, since it was common practice to bury all
items connected with the Royal Funeral, close to the final
resting-place of the king.
One
of the boats - made up of 1,224 separate parts was reconstructed
by being stitched together using ropes made of vegetable
fibers. After its reassembly, the boat measuring 43.3m
(142ft) long is now housed in the Solar Boat Museum next
to the pyramid.
The
boat pits could have been symbolic transport mechanisms
for the king's ascent to the heavens - westwards with
the setting sun and eastwards with the rising sun.
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Solar
Boat Museum 
