Archaeologists uncovered a bizarre structure near the Great Pyramid in Egypt. However, they need to figure out what the object is, as it was only discovered through ground-penetrating radar.
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Kallerna)
Mysterious Structure Near the Great Pyramid of Egypt
Archaeologists have found an enigmatic underground building close to Egypt's Great Pyramid that may be an unidentified tomb constructed 4,500 years ago.
Using ground-penetrating radar, the team examined the Western Cemetery in Giza and discovered an L-shaped anomaly that seemed to be the entrance to a chamber below.
The tomb contains the bones of King Khufu, who ordered the construction of the famous pyramid, his household, and high-ranking officials. The discovery of the bizarre structure indicates that another royal tomb may be hidden beneath the sands.
The L-shaped building is filled with sand and sits up to six feet below the surface. Researchers assume this was done on purpose after it was built to block the entrance to the "chamber," located approximately 30 feet below the surface.
The researchers employed electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), a method for mapping geologic differences, in addition to radar. The structures were found in a "blank area" that was primarily level with compacted sand on the surface and had no apparent features.
The group measured the L-shaped feature's dimensions using the scanners and found that it is roughly 32 feet long and 49 feet wide. The second building, which is 32 feet tall, may be made of gravel and sand or be a space.
Scholars have conjectured that the building might be a mastaba, a rectangular tomb that is underground and has a flat roof—usually made of limestone or mudbricks.
The researchers observed that it features a vertical shaft attached to an underground chamber. Since most of these places are covered in overburdened sand, pinpointing their precise locations from the surface is difficult.
The "shape is too sharp," according to study first author Motoyuki Sato, a professor at Tohoku University's Center for Northeast Asian Studies in Japan. He added that he and his team are confident the structures are not natural phenomena.
The researchers speculate that the structure creating the anomalies might be limestone vertical walls or shafts leading to a tomb building. They pointed out that more research would be required to ascertain its real identity.
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Mystery of the Pyramid of Giza
In related news, the Great Pyramid of Giza was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World because of its enormous scale. With a height of more than 480 feet, The Great Pyramid is considered the largest artificial monument. Approximately 13 acres are devoted to the pyramid's base alone.
Each of the three pyramids was constructed using millions of stone blocks weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons. Since they were erected 4,000 years ago, many people have been curious about the precise method employed to build such an impeccable building, which is why the enigma exists. Modern equipment was not yet available at the time.
Several theories exist about the specific methods used, and there are still many questions about the building of these massive monuments.
The Giza pyramids' innards are mainly made of solid, empty blocks of stone. Like many other ancient Egyptian pyramids, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure include passageways at their bases that lead to tiny underground burial chambers beneath each pyramid. The burial chamber has underground tunnels even though it is situated in the middle of Khufu's Pyramid and can only be reached by climbing a small internal route.
RELATED ARTICLE: Egyptians' Secret to Building Pyramids With Perfect Alignment Without Advanced Tools Could Be This, Archaeologist Suggests
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