Scientists Discovered Two Hidden Tunnels in the Pyramid of Giza

They used cosmic rays to find it

Hiya!

We, humans, love a good mystery. We love theorizing possibilities, rationalizing solutions, and imagining scenarios leading up to whatever mystery captures our attention. Some of the best mysteries involve our ancient past, and lately, archeologists are finding new ones thanks to technological advancements allowing scientists to explore areas quicker and more sustainably compared to the old days of surveying by foot.

I’m hearing about new finds every day made by technology like LiDAR, which I told you about before, but there are other methods to noninvasively explore our ancient past. Such as muon tomography, which has revealed not one, but two previously unknown chambers in the Great Pyramid of Khufu—aka The Great Pyramid of Giza, aka The Great Pyramid—the largest of the three main pyramids on the Giza Plateau, adding to the mystery of the pyramids.

Mysteries of the Great Pyramid

Of all the seven ancient wonders, The Great Pyramid of Giza is the last one left standing. The largest of the three Pyramids of Giza, the Great Pyramid is made of 2.3 million blocks and stands almost 755 feet (230 meters) high. Though, after its completion about 4,500 years ago, it stood about 482 feet (147 meters) tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world for thousands of years—until the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, was completed in 1889.

The differences in height are because, originally, the four sides had white polished limestone casing atop it, which shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight but were likely stripped and repurposed over the years. At 4,500 years old, the Great Pyramid of Giza remains one of humanity’s biggest mysteries. Experts have slowly learned about it over the millennia, but most discoveries result in more questions than answers.

For instance, we’re pretty sure it was constructed over a twenty-year period during the rule of pharaoh Khufu (2589-2566 BCE, also known as Cheops) because of diary entries, written receipts, letters, and official reports to and from the palace. Many people believe the pyramid was built to be Khufu’s tomb and point out that a sarcophagus was found inside the King’s Chamber. However, no mummies or grave goods have ever been found inside. Egyptologists admitted the pyramid was likely looted during the New Kingdom era between 1570 and 1069 BCE.

Meanwhile, those who question the tomb theory argue that most royal tombs have elaborate murals on the walls, boasting the name and story of the person residing in them. However, no such paintings or inscriptions have been found inside the Great Pyramid. Rather than a burial tomb for the pharaoh, some people (including Nikolas Tesla) believe the pyramids were actually power plants and were intended for wireless transmissions of energy.

Either way, there is yet to be a definitive answer for the purpose of the Great Pyramid. But, that’s just one mystery the Great Pyramid holds.

Perhaps even more mysterious is figuring out how the ancient Egyptians constructed it to begin with. Sure, there are plenty of other pyramids around Egypt, and the world, but the Great Pyramid of Khufu has a complexity unmatched by any other structure built during that time. And while we have written documents showing who ordered the pyramid to be built and who ruled during its construction, there is no evidence telling exactly how it was created.

These days, thousands of years later, the Pyramid of Giza is still revealing secrets. Using ingenious technology, scientists have recently discovered chambers no one knew existed since the days it was constructed. They even managed to peek inside one of them.