Uncover Hidden Corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza

Uncover Hidden Corridor in Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza has always been shrouded in mystery, and for centuries, researchers and explorers have sought to uncover its secrets. In recent years, non-invasive technology has been used to peer inside the structure, and the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

The latest discovery, announced on Thursday by Egyptian antiquities officials, is a hidden corridor measuring nine metres (30 feet) in length. The corridor was found near the main entrance of the pyramid and was likely created to redistribute the weight of the massive structure.

According to Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, the unfinished corridor may have been built to redistribute the pyramid's weight around the main entrance, which is now used by tourists, or around another undiscovered chamber or space. The discovery could provide valuable insights into the construction of the pyramid and the purpose of a gabled limestone structure that sits in front of the corridor.

The Great Pyramid was constructed as a monumental tomb around 2560 BC during the reign of the Pharaoh Khufu, or Cheops. At a height of 146 metres (479 feet), it was the tallest structure made by humans until the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris in 1889. Today, it stands at 139 metres.

The discovery of the hidden corridor was made under the Scan Pyramids project, which has been using non-invasive technology since 2015 to explore the structure. The technology includes infrared thermography, 3D simulations, and cosmic-ray imaging.

In 2017, researchers from the Scan Pyramids project announced the discovery of a void at least 30 metres long inside the Great Pyramid, marking the first major inner structure found since the 19th century.

The latest discovery was made through cosmic-ray muon radiography, and images of the corridor were retrieved by feeding a 6mm-thick endoscope from Japan through a tiny joint in the pyramid's stones.

The discovery of the hidden corridor is a testament to the power of non-invasive technology in uncovering ancient secrets. As researchers continue to explore the Great Pyramid and other ancient structures, we may yet uncover even more mysteries from the past.