Mystery ‘void’ found in Great Pyramid of Giza
It’s rare that something new is discovered in one of the world’s oldest buildings, but that’s what scientists just did.
A hidden “void” was recently identified inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. The discovery was made using cosmic-ray based imaging.
The Great Pyramid was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), who reigned from 2509 to 2483 B.C. It’s the only one of the original seven wonders of the ancient world still standing.
Scientists imaged the pyramid us- ing muons — subatomic particles that are byproducts of cosmic rays and can penetrate stone. Muons take distinct paths when moving through stone or air, making it possible to distinguish cavities from solid formations. That allows scientists to “see” inside the pyramid.
The scientists said the void was about 100 feet long and is above the pyramid’s Grand Gallery. It’s the first major inner structure found in the Great Pyramid since the 19th century, the study said.
Egypt’s former antiquities minister and famed archaeologist Zahi Hawass, however, has long downplayed the usefulness of scans of ancient sites. “The Great Pyramid is full of voids,” he said. “We have to be careful how results are presented to the public.”