A technology that uses radiation from space to reveal archaeological secrets

The researchers were able to map the interior of the pyramid, which led to the discovery of a nine-meter tunnel, the existence of which was previously unknown.

The largest of the three Giza pyramids in Egypt, the Pyramid of Khufu is the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Inside it is full of unknown, unresolved questions that archaeologists have been exploring for decades, if not centuries. Today’s scientists have an advantage over their predecessors in that they increasingly have the specific technology to study these enormous stone structures.

In this sense, the ScanPyramids project is an international scientific mission that will examine the interiors of the pyramids without the need for excavation. The initiative has been operating since 2015 and has many innovations in its approaches.

However, his recent contributions have gone hand-in-hand with a specific technology that uses cosmic rays from space to travel through our atmosphere until they reach the pyramids.

Let’s explain it a little better. Earth is constantly being bombarded with cosmic rays coming from space. When passing through our planet’s atmosphere, these rays disintegrate to form muons. Muons are energetic particles that can pass through any surface, such as rocks and buildings.

Scientists have installed muon-detecting sensors and cameras in and around the Great Pyramid of Giza. This allowed them to determine how many muons passed through the pyramid and how many were absorbed.

By crossing this information gathered by other non-invasive techniques such as infrared thermography, the researchers were able to create a map of the pyramid’s interior and discover a previously unknown nine-meter tunnel.

This discovery was great news for the Egyptians, as they sought to locate the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, whose mummy was never found.

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt said after the discovery, “We are in dire need to find King Khufu’s treasure because the treasures of all kings except Khufu have already been found. It’s a mystery.”

Khufu is the only pyramid with three levels, and it is believed that “something hidden” or “something else guarded” is seven meters below that passage.

It is assumed that this is the burial chamber of the pharaoh. But for now, they can only say that the passage exists and hope to find a way to access it.