Hidden beneath the sands of Dahshur, a mysterious 4,000-year-old structure has been opened for the first time since its burial.
After prying the incredible find open, the sealed pyramid stunned archaeologists and Egyptologists, raising more questions than before.
The ancient structure was discovered to be the final resting place of an Egyptian princess. The team expected the chamber to be filled with untouched treasures and historical artefacts, yet what has inside left them shocked.
Workers accidentally stumbled across the phenomenon during recent quarry works in the Egyptian village of Dahshur, home to some of the country’s oldest and most unique pyramids. Buried beneath the desert were the remains of an unknown structure in the form of finely cut limestone blocks.
Experts soon began the excavation process. Upon digging, archaeologists found a passageway leading deep underground. The interior of the pyramid, however, remained sealed shut, which is rare for Egyptian tombs. This led to a documented investigation that featured in the TV show Mystery of the Lost Pyramid.
The burial chamber inside was completely intact, leading to the hope of many amazing objects inside. However, much to the team’s surprise, the chamber had been ransacked despite being sealed for 4,000 years.
A British Egyptologist leading the investigation, Dr Chris Naunton, labelled the situation an “ancient crime scene”. Questions began flooding in, raising curiosity over how the structure had been looted if it was sealed shut. Evidence then pointed to the robbery before it was closed – an unprecedented scenario.
Dr Naunton said: “This means the burial was already disturbed before it was closed forever.
“The capstone was designed to keep intruders out, but it also ensured that the burial chamber was never checked again.”
Upon investigation, experts examined the damaged hieroglyphs on a chest found inside. This revealed the name of Princess Hatshepsut, a forgotten royal. Unlike her ancestors, the Princess had never before been recorded, yet the fact she had her pyramid points to her importance at the time.
Archaeologists continue to examine the Lost Pyramid of Dahshur as they seek answers to the many questions the discovery has raised.
