The existence of a corridor confirmed in the great pyramid of Giza
Imaging technologies were used to examine unexplored sections of the ancient structure.
Well-known archaeologist Zahi Hawass and Egyptian Minister of Tourism Ahmed Eissa on Thursday confirmed the existence of a previously unknown long corridor in the Great Pyramid of Giza, the first of its kind to be found from the side north of the structure.
So far the existence of this space was only an assumption based on measurement data. It is now confirmed.
The corridor is nine meters long and two meters wide. The hypothesis of the existence of this hollow space near blocks of rafters above the main entrance of the pyramid was put forward in 2016 following initial analyzes carried out within the framework of the project Scan Pyramids.
The ScanPyramids team has confirmed the existence of a cavity on the northeast edge of the pyramid.
Researchers from Université Laval participated in this international program by developing thermography technology that helped inspect unexplored sections of the ancient structure.
On it is unclear what the chamber was used for, but such corridors often lead to other archaeological finds.
The first measurements gave a good impression of the size of the chamber. Then, after discovering an opening between the stones of the rafter, the researchers used an endoscopic camera placed in a tube to better understand the size of the space.
The room is more larger than what researchers had previously estimated. Data measured in 2016 indicated the existence of a corridor at least five meters long.
Discovering a hollow space in a pyramid is already something special. The fact that this room is large enough to accommodate several people makes this discovery even more important, said a delighted Professor Christian Grosse of the Technical University of Munich.
Scientists found no traces of footprints or other signs of human activity in the chamber. They estimate that the chamber has not been visited in approximately 4,500 years.
The function of the chamber remains unknown at this time, but it is mostly this which hides behind the wall at the back of the room which intrigues researchers who hope to discover it in the coming years.
The pyramids have not finished revealing their secrets.
The pyramid is located about fifteen kilometers from the center of Cairo. It is also called the Pyramid of Cheops, named after the pharaoh who had it built and who reigned between 2509 and 2483 BCE.
This pyramid is the last surviving wonder of the ancient world. It has fascinated visitors since it was erected as a royal burial chamber 4500 years ago. Experts disagree on how the pyramids were built, so even the most modest finds generate a lot of interest.
The Egypt often promotes such finds to attract tourists, a major source of foreign currency for the impoverished North African country. Egyptian tourism was badly hit by the political crisis and instability that followed the Arab Spring in 2011.
With information from Associated Press
