'The Bible in Stone': Pyramids, Lost Tribes and Alternative Archaeologies

Fascination with the Great Pyramid of Khufu is one of the cornerstones of alternative archaeology, with mystical or prophetic significance attached to its every dimension and measurement. In this paper I highlight the important contribution of the religious nationalist British-Israelite movement in the invention and popularization of pyramidology. Tracing the development of this esoteric subject through the first half of the 20th century, I demonstrate the importance of so-called pyramid prophecy in the development of British-Israelism as a nationalist and imperialist myth of election. By examining British-Israelite pyramidology in its historical context, I propose a critical approach to alternative archaeologies that focuses on individual narratives rather than ill-defined categories.