A recent scan of the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the Giza pyramids, has uncovered two unusual air pockets behind its granite walls. This finding follows notable discoveries in the Great Pyramid of Khufu, which included a large internal cavity and a gallery. The air pockets in Menkaure’s pyramid, revealed through advanced non-invasive scanning techniques, differ significantly in size and shape, indicating a distinct construction history.
The research team, led by Cairo University’s Khalid Helal and Mohamed Elkarmoti, utilized a combination of Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and Ultrasound Testing (UT) to assess the pyramid’s structure. They found one pocket measuring approximately 1.5 meters wide and another 0.9 by 0.7 meters, both behaving like air voids rather than simply being joints in the stone.
This research highlights the continuing fascination with the Giza pyramids, which have stood for over 4,000 years. While Menkaure’s façade of reddish granite is unique, the exact purpose of the findings remains unclear. Further investigation, possibly using cosmic ray muography, is suggested to explore these anomalies. The study was published in NDT & E International.
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