Scientists brought modern equipment to one of the pillars of the Ancient Egyptian culture, the Great Pyramid of Giza. This tomb is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and has been marvelously faced the test of time. Thanks to modern particle physics, researchers discovered a secret chamber that escaped previous observations of archaeologists.
The Newly Discovered Secret Chamber Hasn’t Been Explored Yet
Journal Nature published a report on the latest discovery in Egypt. The found room measures 100 feet long and is located above the Grand Gallery. The entire tomb was built around 2,500 B.C., and it managed to keep this ample space hidden for such a long time.
On the other hand, experts caution people not to indulge into romantic interpretations of such a discovery. The room is considered secret only because scientists weren’t able to find it so far. There are chances that the body of the king himself rests here. However, there are no investigations to back up such speculations at this point.
Nonetheless, the generous size of this secret chamber made scientists believe that it was created for a higher purpose. On top of that, the fact that the architects designed this part to make it hard for people to penetrate is also speaking volumes.
Scientists Used Non-Intrusive Muon-Detecting Techniques to Map the Great Pyramid of Giza
Mehdi Tayoubi at the HIP Institute in Paris together with his colleagues brought non-destructive analytical tools to the Great Pyramid of Giza to further investigate it. They chose a modern technique of imaging that employs muons. These are small particles such as electrons.
“What is strange, for me, is to use those very, very small particles for a huge monument like the pyramid.”
Muons are the result of the impact between cosmic rays and the atmospheric atoms. Muons rain down on Earth and they can pass through hard materials such as stones. However, they start losing energy and eventually decay. By detecting these particles, researchers can create a map of a structure with each space and wall clearly delimited.
The team claimed that they were only testing the modern technology at first. They placed the muon-detecting film in Queen’s Chamber. They started analyzing muons to determine whether they can see the above floor with King’s Chamber and Grand Gallery or not. However, they managed more than that as they intercepted the presence of a third void.
It turned out to be the newly discovered secret chamber. They now need to collaborate with Egyptologists to explore the space. On top of that, they intend to use this non-intrusive and effective technology to map other pyramids as well.
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