Great Pyramid of Giza

Subject : History

Section: World History

Concept :

At the main entrance of the 4,500-year-old Great Pyramid of Giza, researchers have discovered a secret passageway.
According to BBC news, the initial finding was made by the ScanPyramids project in 2016 using a non-invasive method called cosmic-ray muon radiography.
Since then, researchers have used a variety of techniques to conduct a focused analysis of the discovered structure.

The Great Pyramid

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid and the tomb of Khufu, who is widely regarded as the greatest emperor of ancient Egypt.
Construction was started in 2550 BC, during the reign of Khufu, often considered the greatest pharaoh of Egypt’s old kingdom.
The pyramid is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact.
According to National Geographic, the pyramid was constructed out of 2.5 million stone pieces that each weighed between 2.5 and 15 tonnes.

Cosmic-Ray Muon Radiography (CMR)

CMR is a technique used to study the density and composition of materials hidden within large and dense objects, such as geological formations, archaeological sites, and industrial facilities.
The technique involves using muons, a type of cosmic-ray particle, to generate images of the interior of such objects.
Muon particles are created when cosmic rays, mostly protons and atomic nuclei, collide with atoms in the Earth’s upper atmosphere.
These muons travel through the atmosphere and penetrate deep into the ground, passing through objects along their path.
Muons are highly penetrating particles that can penetrate several meters of rock or other materials, making them ideal for imaging the internal structure of objects.
Working principle
The principle behind CMR is to measure the flux of muons passing through an object and compare it to the expected flux based on the object’s geometry and composition.
Differences in the measured and expected flux indicate variations in the object’s density or composition, which can be used to create an image of the object’s internal structure.