Scientists believe they have uncovered the remains of a secret entrance to an ancient Egyptian pyramid, approximately 4,500 years after its construction, following the discovery of a mysterious ‘void. ‘.
The suspected concealed entrance is thought to have provided access to the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three principal pyramids forming the renowned Giza complex.
Constructed around 2510 BC, the structure stands at nearly 200 feet in height. Historians believe it was built to house the tomb of King Menkaure, the Fourth Dynasty pharaoh.
The location of his sarcophagus remains an enduring mystery.
Utilising advanced scanning technology, researchers from Egypt and Germany were able to examine beyond the structure’s granite blocks, reports the Express US.
The scientists reportedly identified two concealed air-filled anomalies, potentially indicating the pyramid contains a hidden entrance that has evaded detection through conventional research techniques.
According to Christian Grosse, a professor of non-destructive testing at the Technical University of Munich, the discovery is significant. It represents “an important finding in Giza.
“The testing methodology we developed allows very precise conclusions to be drawn about the nature of the pyramid’s interior,” he said.
“The hypothesis of another entrance is very plausible, and our results take us a big step closer to confirming it.”
The primary entrance to the Menkaure pyramid lies on the northern face; specialists believe the potential secret entrance is situated on the eastern side, overlooking the River Nile.
The chamber is believed to be a rectangular space, measuring approximately 13ft by 19ft, situated on the eastern side near ground level.”
Supporting the researchers’ hypothesis further, granite blocks discovered in the vicinity appear “unusually smooth” as though they were meticulously polished thousands of years ago.
Likewise, smooth stones have been uncovered at the main entrance too, indicating the presence of a second chamber.