CAIRO(Reuters)-Egypt revealed on Thursday that a long corridor was discovered inside the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is the first discovery on the north side of the structure.
A corridor measuring 9 meters (about 30 feet) by 2 meters (more than 6 feet) towered above the main entrance of the famous structure and was discovered in scans, officials said. The function of the room is currently unknown, but such corridors often lead to further archaeological discoveries.
Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass and the country’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Eisa announced the discovery at the foot of the pyramid.
This room was discovered by the Scan Pyramid Project. The Scan Pyramids Project is an international program that uses scans to study unexplored parts of ancient structures. Located about 11 miles from central Cairo, the pyramid is famous for its builders, who were Pharaohs of the 4th Dynasty who lived from 2509 to 2483 BC. Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu.
Ancient structures are the last surviving wonders of the ancient world. It has fascinated visitors since it was built as a royal tomb some 4,500 years ago. Experts disagree about how those and other pyramids were built, so even relatively small discoveries are of great interest.
Egypt often publicly promotes its ancient discoveries to attract more tourists. It is a major source of foreign exchange for the cash-strapped North African country.The sector has suffered a lengthy recession following political unrest and riots following the 2011 riots.
