The Great Pyramid of Giza is the sole survivor of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, and at 4,500 years old, it’s also one of the oldest constructions (save for Malta’s megalithic temples). And yet, people are still discovering new things hidden inside… like a massive hidden chamber.

In a recent project dubbed ScanPyramids embarked by researchers from countries including France and Japan, particles (muons) were shot from space, penetrating the rock much like X-rays. What physicists found was a large chamber which was soon dubbed the ‘ScanPyramids Big Void’.

The chamber, running over the famous Grand Gallery, is at least 30 metres (100 feet) long and up to 70 metres (230 feet) above ground. For some comparison, Gozo’s huge Ġgantija Temples, a megalithic structure which actually predates the Great Pyramid by a thousand years, rises to just about 6 metres (19.69 feet).

As of yet, it is not known why this “great void” exists or whether it holds any valuable artefacts. In fact, it’s not even known whether it lies on a horizontal or inclined plane.

Researches suggest it could be some sort of “construction gap” which allowed workers to access the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber while the rest of the pyramid was built. The next step, scientists hope, is sending a flying robot inside to uncover its secrets.

Photos by ScanPyramids Mission

The Great Pyramid of Giza, was built under the watch of Pharaoh Khufu. It took an estimated 20,000 workers 30 years to build, and was completed around 2,550 BC. It consists of 2,300,000 limestone blocks weighing anything from 20 to 40 tons, and the sides used to be covered by 144,000 slabs of white marble. The temperate inside the pyramid is a constant 20°C, even in summer when the outside temperature goes well beyond 30°C.

What do you think this ‘great void’ was used for? 

Let us know in the comments below!

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David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).