They scanned a pyramid in Egypt – and what was discovered stirs a 4,500-year-old mystery

An international research team has revealed two hidden chambers in the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza using advanced scanning technology. The chambers were discovered behind a smooth stone wall, strengthening the hypothesis of an ancient secret entrance that was sealed thousands of years ago.

An international research team has revealed two hidden structural chambers deep within the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza, the smallest of Egypt's three famous pyramids. The researchers used advanced scanning technology including radio waves (radar), sound waves (ultrasound), and subtle electrical currents, which penetrate the stones without the need for excavation. The chambers, measuring about 1.5 meters by 1 meter and a smaller one, were discovered precisely behind a section of smooth wall on the eastern side of the pyramid – an area similar in appearance to the official entrance on the northern side. This similarity strengthens the assessment that it is an ancient secret entrance that was deliberately sealed and has never been opened since the time of the pharaohs. An expert on the project noted that the same scanning method previously led to the discovery of a hidden corridor in the neighboring Great Pyramid. At this stage, the instruments can only peer to a shallow depth of the wall, so it is still not known for certain what the function of the chambers is – they could be a corridor leading to secret rooms, a small chamber, or a technical space left by the builders. Egyptian antiquities authorities will not allow drilling or dismantling of the granite stones; the next step will involve using gentle methods such as inserting a tiny camera through a thin slit or using particles from space.