Egypt Using advanced lidar technology, experts confirm 200-year-old speculation about chambers in Sahure's pyramid.
Temple and pyramid of Sahure at the Abusir necropolis. Photo: DeAgostini/Getty
In 1836, Egyptologist John Shae Perring discovered a debris-filled passageway while excavating the Sahure (or Sahura) pyramid. As an expert on the floor plans of such structures, he speculated that there might be more undiscovered chambers. However, the area was too damaged to enter, so Perring was unable to test his hypothesis. In the early 1900s, German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt ignored Perring's findings while excavating the site.
Now, an Egyptian-German team is working to restore the Sahure pyramid and prove that 200-year-old prediction was correct, Business Insider reported on October 19. Using lidar — a method that uses laser pulses to penetrate obstacles like tree branches or walls to see what's on the other side — the team has mapped the mysterious passageways and chambers.
Temperature changes, high humidity and wind have caused parts of the pyramid to collapse over the centuries. Partial clearing of the rubble and 3D mapping have helped the team gain a better understanding of the structure, including eight newly discovered chambers in the passageway Perring found. These chambers may have been storage chambers, used to store the burial objects of royal rulers, said Mohamed Ismail Khaled, an Egyptologist at the Julius-Maximilians University of Würzburg, who led the pyramid restoration team.
One of the passage chambers found in the pyramid of Sahure. Photo: Mohamed Khaled
Sahure was a pharaoh who ruled during the 5th Dynasty of ancient Egypt, around 2,400 BC. Like other pharaohs, Sahure's pyramid is considered a monument to his rule. The pyramid has been excavated several times over the past few centuries.
Part of the reason the pyramid fell into such a dilapidated state is due to the original construction technique. The core contains pieces of limestone, ceramic, sand, and other debris. While this technique reduced the time and cost of construction, it may have made the pyramid more susceptible to collapse, according to a 2022 study.
The latest conservation project began in 2019. The team is working to stabilize the structure and replace collapsed supports with retaining walls. They hope to make the chambers clean, safe, and open the pyramid to the public in the future.
Thu Thao (According to Business Insider )
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