CAIRO, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- A collection of tombs that belong to workers who built Khufu's pyramid has been discovered in the area of the workmen's tombs on the Giza plateau, a statement issued on Sunday by the Culture Ministry said.

    According to the statement, the tombs were found by an Egyptian excavation team led by Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA).

    "The tombs are dated to the 4th Dynasty and belong to workmen who built the pyramids of Khufu (2609-2584 BC) and Khafre (2576-2551 BC)," Hawass said.

    "This is the first time to uncover tombs like the ones that were found during the 1990's, which belong to the late 4th and 5thDynasties (2649-2374 BC)," Hawass added.

    "These tombs were built beside the king's pyramid, which indicates that these people were not by any means slaves. If they were slaves, they would not have been able to build their tombs beside their king's," concluded Hawass.