Gosford Glyphs

What are the Gosford Glyphs?

The Gosford Glyphs are a set of nearly 300 engravings in Kariong, New South Wales, Australia. They glyphs were "discovered" in the mid to late 1900s. The glyphs look similar to ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and although most scientists dismiss the idea that they're over 5000 years old and Egyptian, some sources believe they are.

What is the context in which it was found/excavated/etc?

The glyphs were first reported by Alan Dash, a local surveyor in Gosford, in the 1970s. Alan returned to the site a few times and found new glyphs each time. The glyphs were analyzed by many experts, most, if not all, of which have states that they're not genuinely Egyptian hieroglyphs.

New Glyphs

From the start of the glyphs changes have been made to them between periods of Egyptologists and enthusiasts. In the first documented report of the glyphs "[Alan] Dash investigated the site and noticed some hieroglyphs carved along the western wall of sandstone, although at the time nothing was carved into the eastern wall." It is known from modern photos that there are glyphs on the eastern wall now, so those must have been added since the 1970s when Alan Dash first reported the glyphs. There are several other documented changes to the glyphs including additional lines being carved into the glyph of Anubis' ears.

The glyphs were also added to in the 1980 which is known because of David Lambert, a rock art expert who examined them in 1983. He noted that "the glyphs had only recently been carved due to the lack of lichen growth in the carved grooves and the visual appearance of spalling chips around the symbols"

The Pseudoarchaeology of the Glyphs

Some pseudo-Egyptologists, such as Mohamed Ibrahim (who studied "(Ancient Egyptian, Coptic, Islamic) Art and history at Helwan University in Cairo") and Yousef Abd’el Hakim Awyan (who "studied ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs his entire life" but has no formal Egyptology education), argue that the glyphs must be real because they show an extensive knowledge of glyphs (beyond that of translating software). The vast majority of Egyptologists agree that whoever carved the Gosford Glyphs actually didn't have much knowledge of the glyphs due to their disorganized nature and the chronology of the glyphs.

The story of the glyphs (according to the following translation) is as follows: Two Egyptian princes, Nefer-Djeseb and Nefer-Ti-Ru, sons of Khufu (king of Upper and Lower Egypt), sailed eastward for eight months until they reached land. Then, Nefer-Ti-Ru was bitten by a snake twice and died from the poison. Then prince Nefer-Djesed and the ship's crew mummified and buried Nefer-Ti-Ru in between the walls that the glyphs are carved on.

One translation (by Ray Johnson (from Queensland) and Hans-Dieter von Senff ):

HIEROGLYPHS ON THE EAST WALL:

[1] FOR HIS HIGHNESS, THE PRINCE, from this wretched place in this land, where we were carried by ship. Engraved for the Crown of Lower Egypt, according to God’s word. [2] My fellow Egyptians call out from this place in this strange land for the god SUTI. I, NEFER-DJESEB, Son of KHUFU, king of Upper and Lower Egypt (beloved by Ptah), has brought the god SUTI. [3] The Prince was kind and benevolent, follower of the SunGod Ra. [4] For two seasons (eight months) he directed us eastward, weary, but strong to the end. Always praying, joyful, and smiting insects. He, the servant of God, said God created the insects to protect his people. [5] I myself am hardened, have gone around hills and deserts, in wind and rain, with no lakes at hand, blessed by the falling nights, when I hided myself, completely out of reach. [6] In our last camp I cooked fowl on hand, and brought rain, but hurt my back carrying the Golden Falcon Standard, crossing hills, desert and pools of water along the way. [7] Plants are withering, Land is dying. Is this our lot from the highest God of the Sacred Mer? [8] The Sun is pouring down upon our back! Oh mighty Khepera, this is not what the Oracle has said. Our Harts are overturned, but not broken. [9] This Regal person NEFER-TI-RU came from the temple of God in Penu, Egypt. He came from the House of God. He was the Son of KHUFU, king of Upper and Lower Egypt. [10] He, who died before, is here laid to rest. May he have life everlasting. [11] He is never again to stand beside the waters of the Sacred Mer. Then clasp him, my Brothers Spirit to thy side, O Father of the Earth.

THE EGYPTIAN HIEROGLYPHS ON THE WEST WALL:

[12] The snake bit twice. We, followers of the divine king KHUFU, mighty one of Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Adzes, we shall not all return. However, we have to continue, we cannot look back. [13] All creek and river beds are dry, and we are dismayed. Our boats are tied up with rope. Death was caused by snake. [14] We gave egg-yolk from the medicine-chest, and prayed to Amun, the Hidden One, for he was struck twice. [15] It was a hard time for all of us, weeping over the dead body, and keeping to the protocol. [16] Seated all aside, our men watched the funeral, with concern and deep love. How the mummified body was buried in the Red Earth Section. [17] Then we recovered ourselves. [18] We walled in the side entrance to the chamber, with stones from all around. The chamber was aligned with the Western Heavens. [19] I counted and impounded the daggers of our men. [20] The three doors of eternity were connected to the rear end of the Royal Tomb, and sealed in.

EAST WALL:

[21] He, who doesn’t belong to this place, will not return home to the town of Penu. [22] Remember with love his nobel spirit. He will only receive the most purest fruit. Personally I devided one third of the fruit for the burial service.

WEST WALL, AGAIN:

[23] Oh God, reach down your hands, and make the Land green. [24] A necklace was placed by his side, A Royal token, signifying: “Heavens Gift, as from thou...!” [25] The shining relics were carried to the private sanctury of his Tomb. In the name of the spirit of the sanctuary at the town of Penu. [26] Along with the silver dagger, a Royal token of God, our Creator. Separated from home is the Royal Body, and all others.

TWO NEW PANELS NEAR THE MAIN SITE:

Hieroglyphs on a North Wall:

[27] We have irrefutable evidence our King’s Son was killed by too much poison.

Hieroglyphs on a West Wall:

[28] In the name of the Lord we buried him in the Royal Tomb in the northern part of this place, which was closed at the back side.

Who are Ray Johnson (from Queensland) and Hans-Dieter von Senff and why did they make this translation?

Ray Johnson

Ray Johnson had no formal education or professional experience in Egyptology. Australian Ray Johnson was self-taught for any of his knowledge on Egyptian culture, history, and hieroglyphs.

American Ray W. Johnson

There is a genuine Egyptologist by the name of Ray W. Johnson who works for the University of Chicago. This Ray Johnson has stated that "those rock inscriptions were clearly not done by any ancient Egyptians".

Hans-Dieter von Senff

According to "Unexplained Mysteries Discussion Forums", "Dr Hans Dieter Von Senff has a degree in Multicultural Studies from Newcastle University. Dr Von Senff also holds a Bachelor of Arts- English Literature, Australian Defence Studies and German from the University of Queensland and has a Ph.D in Germanistics." Although Von Senff has several degrees, none of them are relevant to the study of Ancient Egypt, Egyptian glyphs, or proto-Egyptian glyphs. He also has no professional experience working in the field of Egyptology, so he is not, at least currently, a genuine Egyptologist.

According to the same source, Von Senff states "These Hieroglyphs are real and have existed for some 4.500 years in Australia. In order to prove that these Proto-Egyptian glyphs are not graffiti, as claimed by various "Experts” and “Egyptologists”, but are the written record left by pre-historic man, written in a coherent and understandable language that makes sense even 4.500 years later. This site is no hoax, but a genuine archaeological discovery; as is proven by the newly discovered 2nd set of glyphs." Von Senff, despite not being an Egyptologist, is one of the biggest supporters of the Gosford Glyphs being legitimate Egyptian carvings.

He is also a retired bus driver.

The why/how of the translation

Ray Johnson was the primary translator of the glyphs. He created most of the "translation" that we have, despite having no formal training in translating Egyptian/proto-Egyptian hieroglyphs.

After his death in 2004, Von Senff continued and finished the translation, making publications in 2004 and 2011. During his translation Von Senff used several logical fallacies such as "The fact that it is a Proto-Egyptian scrip, hence pre-dynastic, is fully overlooked by experts. This fact alone validates the script as genuine." in order to translate the glyphs at all.

This translation, and all others like it, have not been verified by any genuine Egyptologists, mostly because they have come to a consensus on the glyphs not being organized enough to tell a story, as well as the fact that some of the glyphs were not created and used until thousands of years after the carving was supposedly made.

The Actual Archaeology of the Glyphs

Many Egyptologists have come to the consensus that the glyphs are fake because of inaccuracies/discrepancies in the glyphs. These Egyptologists include: Associate Professor Boyo Ockinga from Macquarie University's Ancient History Department, who has a Dphil in Egyptology; Australian Egyptologist, Professor Naguib Kanawati, who has a Masters degree and Doctorate in Egyptology; Ray W. Johnson, an Egyptologist at the University of Chicago; etc.. According to Ockinga, inaccuracies are evident in the way that the glyphs were carved into the rocks, as well as in what time period the glyphs used came from. Kanawati also states that some of the glyphs appear to have been carved backwards. Some glyphs came from thousands of years after the glyph was supposedly carved.

It's likely that the glyphs were carved in the 1920s by Australian soldiers. Professor Ockinga says "We have other instances of Australian soldiers having carved, Egyptianising objects in the Kurringai National Park near Sydney". There was an increase in interest over Egyptian culture after the discovery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun, so it's very plausible that some of the soldiers at the time knew about ancient Egyptian culture and hieroglyphs. Evidently enough to know correct glyphs but not enough to know the chronology of those glyphs.