A previously unknown cavity in the Cheops pyramid was revealed by registering muons.
Researchers from the ScanPyramids project said they found a cavity at least 30 meters long in the Cheops pyramid (Khufu). The void is located above the Great Pyramid Gallery, a long ascending corridor connecting the "Queen's Chamber" with the "Pharaoh's Chamber". The cavity was discovered by registering muons, elementary particles that are formed when cosmic rays interact with the upper layers of the atmosphere.
The method of searching for voids in pyramids using muons was first used in the 1960s. Scientists assumed that in the stone and in the air of an empty chamber, the muon flux would decrease at different rates. The authors of the new study placed photographic plates covered with a thick layer of nuclear photographic emulsion, a special composition for registering elementary particles, in the "Queen's Chamber". Passing through the emulsion layer, the particles leave visible traces. Outside, the pyramid was surveyed using muon telescopes, which are commonly used to study cosmic rays. Comparing the results, the scientists concluded that there is a large void above the Great Gallery.
The disadvantage of muon scanning is the relatively low accuracy of the resulting image. According to the researchers, it is not known exactly how the void is located: parallel to the ground, parallel to the Great Gallery, or otherwise. It is also unclear what the void is: a large corridor or several chambers separated by walls. The cavity was probably not used in burial rituals, but served as a structural element of the pyramid, distributing the weight of the stone. Scientists are now working to create a small drone that can examine the pyramid from the inside, if they can get permission for such a study.
With the help of registration of muons, other pyramids were also examined - for example, the "Broken" pyramid in Dakhshur.
The research is published in the journal Nature.
Natalia Pelezneva