Secret hidden chambers in ancient crumbling pyramid are discovered 200 years after mysterious prediction
SECRET chambers hidden in an ancient crumbling pyramid have been discovered 200 years after a mysterious prediction.
In 1836, Egyptologist John Shae Perring was excavating the Pyramid of Sahura when he noticed a debris-filled passageway.
The structure is located in the Abusir pyramid complex, just south of Giza.
With his expertise on floor plans, Perring assumed there could be storage rooms beyond the pyramid's passageway.
But it would take another two centuries to finally confirm his suspicions as it was impossible for Perring to access the area due to severe damage.
Temperature changes, high humidity, and windy conditions have helped cause certain parts of the pyramid to collapse over time.
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Decades after Perring, a second Egyptologist excavated the site in the early 1900s.
Ludwig Borchardt was said to have ignored Perring's claims and did not try to find the hidden chambers - adding to the everlasting mystery.
Now, a joint Egyptian-German team working to restore the pyramid has proven that Perring was correct all along.
Their investigation uncovered a number of storage rooms that have not been documented before - possibly unveiling some of the Sahura's ancient secrets.
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Researchers mapped the exterior and interior passages and chambers using Lidar - a method that applies laser pulses to penetrate obstacles such as tree canopies or walls.
This allowed them to create comprehensive maps of both the extensive external areas and the narrow corridors and chambers within.
It also uncovered a secret passage that led to eight previously undiscovered store rooms.
"This groundbreaking project represents a significant milestone in the understanding of the Sahura pyramid and its historical significance," the team, led by Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled, said.
"Although the northern and southern parts of these magazines, especially the ceiling and the original floor, are badly damaged, remnants of the original walls and parts of the floor can still be seen.
"During restoration, a balance between preservation and presentation was pursued to ensure the structural integrity of the rooms while making them accessible for future study and potentially the public.
They added: "The discovery and restoration of the storerooms is expected to revolutionise the view of historical development of pyramid structures and challenge existing paradigms in the field."
The chambers discovery comes after researchers unearthed the final resting place of a powerful queen who might've been ancient Egypt's first female ruler.
A recent unearthing of ancient wine in Upper Egypt has offered archaeologists clues about a powerful ruler from 5,000 years ago.
The discovery of hundreds of wine jars was made about 10 km from the Nile River by archaeologists from the University of Vienna.
Specifically, the wine was found in the tomb of Meret-Neith, otherwise known as Egypt's forgotten female "king."
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The fact the female ruler was buried with such a large amount of wine now tells researchers that she held great wealth and importance at the time.
Archaeologists also found her name scribbled under a list of kings at her son's tomb at Saqqara.
