For decades, archaeologists have used advanced technology to study Egypt’s pyramids—hoping to understand how these massive structures were built more than 4,000 years ago. However, despite study after study, questions remain about the internal layout of these ancient Egyptian wonders.
Now, using non-invasive scanning methods, researchers have detected hidden features inside the third largest pyramid at Giza, the Pyramid of Menkaure, that could provide valuable insights into how ancient Egyptian builders overcame incredible challenges. Not only does the pyramid look distinctive due to a large crack on one side caused by a failed medieval demolition attempt, but its eastern face also features an unusually smooth and polished granite area, similar to the finish found at the pyramid’s northern entrance.
In 2019, this interest led to the hypothesis that the pyramid harbors a hidden entrance. Building on this idea, a joint team from Cairo University in Egypt and Munich University of Technology in Germany recently conducted new scans as part of the ScanPyramids project. They successfully visualized what appears to be an “air-filled void” behind polished stone sections using several non-invasive scanning methods. Prior to the recent discovery of the “air-filled void,” archaeologists involved in the project had discovered several other similar chambers, including a 100-foot-long hidden chamber found inside the Great Pyramid of Giza in 2017, and a 30-foot-long corridor in 2023.
