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| The NPWS reluctantly conduct regular tours to the glyphs |
The Kariong Glpyhs have been examined by qualified experts on a number of occasions , firstly in 1983 after the discovery by the NPWS officers.
In 1998 they were again scrutinised by a qualified Egyptologist after Paul White wrote an article for Exposure magazine.
Macquarie University experts again confirmed the carvings were fake in 2012 after press releases and articles by retired bus driver Hans-Dieter von Senff and unemployed school teacher Steve Strong
National Parks and Wildlife Service
In 1983 the carvings were examined by rock art expert David Lambert who 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.
Photos taken at the time show painfully obvious freshly cut symbols on the dark rock surface.
Due to the constant enquiries about the glyphs the NPWS has produced a facts sheet to send out to interested persons.
Macquarie University Sydney
Professor Nageeb Kanawiati of the Department of Egyptology examined photographs taken by the NPWS in 1983 and remarked that the while some of the work did have Egyptian symbols , it made no sense at all , merely a collection of Egyptian words and symbols done by amateurs.
More recently in 2012 Associate Professor Boyo Ockinga from the Macquarie University's school of ancient history remarked " I saw them a few years ago ; there aren't any connected texts that make any sense at all "
" People just don't want to believe they are fake; they want this connection with ancient Egypt to be true , but unfortunately it's not "
Australian Egyptologist Dr. Gregory P Gilbert
Dr. Gilbert was contacted by researcher Adrian Keating who sent him photographs of the glyphs in 1998.
Dr. Gilbert remarked " I recognise these photographs as being from an Australian rock depiction which supposedly has evidence of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs. I believe that the inscription is a modern forgery , and not a good one at that. As far as a translation is concerned , the inscription has several features which were copied from several " modern " publications of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs , however the greater part of the inscription cannot be translated as it is nothing more than a collection hieroglyphs that do not form words or phrases "
Read all of Dr Gilberts report here
Australian Archaeologist David Coltheart
In 2003 the editor of Archaeological Diggings magazine David Coltheart produced an article on the glyphs , this was the first detailed look at the glyphs story from an experts viewpoint , he visited the site and interviewed the original NPWS officers who were involved in the discovery in 1983 , he also spoke to the council surveyor Alan Dash.
He states "Some of the glyphs are not Egyptian , and many that are Egyptian are incorrectly written. Some glyphs refer to Egyptian names that are hundreds of years apart but the overall inscription conveys no meaning whatsoever!"
Archaeologist Ken Feder
In his 2010 book , The Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology he states " However , the Gosford Glyphs are transparent fakes , poorly done and providing further proof for the assertion that an archaeological fraud need not be well conceived , well thought out , or well executed to garner a following among the gullible who wish to believe in it's legitimacy ".
In 2003 the editor of Archaeological Diggings magazine David Coltheart produced an article on the glyphs , this was the first detailed look at the glyphs story from an experts viewpoint , he visited the site and interviewed the original NPWS officers who were involved in the discovery in 1983 , he also spoke to the council surveyor Alan Dash.
He states "Some of the glyphs are not Egyptian , and many that are Egyptian are incorrectly written. Some glyphs refer to Egyptian names that are hundreds of years apart but the overall inscription conveys no meaning whatsoever!"
Archaeologist Ken Feder
In his 2010 book , The Encyclopedia of Dubious Archaeology he states " However , the Gosford Glyphs are transparent fakes , poorly done and providing further proof for the assertion that an archaeological fraud need not be well conceived , well thought out , or well executed to garner a following among the gullible who wish to believe in it's legitimacy ".
History Channel and Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson and the History Channel documentary team visited the Kariong glyphs site in 2010, Tony describes the notion of Egyptians visiting Australia as " very , very daft indeed ".
The History Channel team leave entirely unconvinced despite attempts by local bush guide Jake Cassar to prove otherwise.
Watch the History Channel video here
Tony Robinson and the History Channel documentary team visited the Kariong glyphs site in 2010, Tony describes the notion of Egyptians visiting Australia as " very , very daft indeed ".
The History Channel team leave entirely unconvinced despite attempts by local bush guide Jake Cassar to prove otherwise.
Watch the History Channel video here
Egyptologist Ray W Johnson
Egyptologist Ray W Johnson is often confused or claimed to be the Ray Johnson that translated the Kariong glyphs , the Australian Ray Johnson was not a formally trained Egyptologist , was self taught and held no other relevant qualifications , he died in 2004.
The American Egyptologist Raymond W Johnson recently remarked on an internet discussion board:
"I have never translated any faux Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions in Australia (those rock inscriptions were clearly not done by any ancient Egyptians). That Ray Johnson, whoever he is/was , has/had no association with the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, and I suspect is not an Egyptologist ".
Egyptologist Ray W Johnson is often confused or claimed to be the Ray Johnson that translated the Kariong glyphs , the Australian Ray Johnson was not a formally trained Egyptologist , was self taught and held no other relevant qualifications , he died in 2004.
The American Egyptologist Raymond W Johnson recently remarked on an internet discussion board:
"I have never translated any faux Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions in Australia (those rock inscriptions were clearly not done by any ancient Egyptians). That Ray Johnson, whoever he is/was , has/had no association with the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, and I suspect is not an Egyptologist ".
Local Aboriginal Rock Art Expert Bob Pankhurst
Bob Pankhurst was born in Kariong in 1940 and still lives there to this day , as most kids did back then Bob roamed the bushland around his home at Kariong playing wars and riding horses , he eventually developed a fascination for the many Aboriginal carvings and sites he found in his travels and began to document them in the 1960's.
Bob knew many old time locals and spoke to some of the last remaining Guringai tribe members before they passed on , his knowledge is greatly respected by current researchers who often call upon him to give talks on Aboriginal culture.
Bob also knew land owner E.F Gilford and visited him many times to explore and document new carvings in the Kariong area.
Bob has no knowledge of the glyphs having been there before they were first discovered in the 80's , the thought of Egyptians visiting his beloved Kariong causes him to chuckle painfully and reach for his bottle of medication.
Bob Pankhurst was born in Kariong in 1940 and still lives there to this day , as most kids did back then Bob roamed the bushland around his home at Kariong playing wars and riding horses , he eventually developed a fascination for the many Aboriginal carvings and sites he found in his travels and began to document them in the 1960's.
Bob knew many old time locals and spoke to some of the last remaining Guringai tribe members before they passed on , his knowledge is greatly respected by current researchers who often call upon him to give talks on Aboriginal culture.
Bob also knew land owner E.F Gilford and visited him many times to explore and document new carvings in the Kariong area.
Bob has no knowledge of the glyphs having been there before they were first discovered in the 80's , the thought of Egyptians visiting his beloved Kariong causes him to chuckle painfully and reach for his bottle of medication.
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| Bob Pankhurst and brother David at Lyre Trig in 1960 |
