Back in 1836, John Shae Perring, an Egyptologist, was conducting excavations on the Pyramid of Sahure when he observed a passageway full of debris. He believed that there could be hidden chambers beyond the debris-filled area, but it was only after 200 years that his suspicions were confirmed.
Hidden Chambers in Pyramid of Sahure
Back then, the area was so damaged that entry was not possible at all. Hence, Perring had no way to prove or disprove his suspicions. While another excavation decades later was conducted by Ludwig Borchardt, a German Egyptologist, Perring's claims were ignored.
It was only recently that the hidden chambers were found by a joint Egyptian and German team that collaborated on the restoration of the pyramid. It was through their works it was found out that Perring was actually right.
The researchers used lidar, which involves applying laser pulses for penetrating obstacles to see beyond, to map the interior and exterior chambers and passages.
Furthermore, clearing rubble and making 3D maps enabled the researchers to understand the structure better. They were able to discover eight rooms that were previously hidden off the passage that Perring previously discovered.
According to Mohamed Ismail Khaled, an Egyptologist from the Julius-Maximilians-Universität, who led the team for the restoration efforts, it is likely that the hidden chambers were storage rooms designed for keeping burial objects of royal rulers.
High humidity, changes in temperature, and windy conditions could have contributed to the collapse of certain parts of the pyramid as centuries passed.
Pyramid of Sahure
The Pyramid of Sahure is situated just south of the famous Giza in the Abusir pyramid complex.
Pharaoh Sahure used to rule during B.C.E. 2400 in the Fifth Dynasty, According to one document, Sahure did not have royal blood in him. However, he was said to be the son of the Sun deity, Ra. Like other pharaohs, Sahure's pyramid served as a moment to his reign.
This particular pyramid has been an excavation focus in the last few centuries. While Borchardt did not explore a decent portion of the structure, a new excavation started in 1994 that uncovered massive blocks of limestone filled with images with multiple colors. One image depicts Sahure on a sailing boat with several boat fleets behind him and with some lion-headed or eagle-headed bows.
One reason why the structure is in a state of disrepair is due to its original techniques for construction. At the core of the pyramid, pottery pieces, limestone pieces, sand, and rubble can be found. Based on a 2022 study, the technique may have cut cost and time but may have compromised the overall durability of the structure, making it more vulnerable to collapse.
The most recent conservation efforts began in 2019. The specialists are working on the stability of the structure by adding retaining walls to replace some deteriorating supports.
It is hoped that the pyramid would be cleaned and secured and even potentially opened to the public.
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