A research group at the Graduate School of Nagoya University and the Institute of Materials and Systems for Sustainability has discovered the position and shape of an unknown space behind the chevron of the world's largest Pyramid of Khufu. It was specified in detail with a high accuracy of several centimeters.Cairo University (Egypt), High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK), CEA (France) and others are participating in the research.
The Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt is the world's largest stone building built about 4,500 years ago.On the north side of the pyramid, you can see a characteristic gable structure called a chevron, which is unique to Khufu's pyramid. called the descent passage.In 2016, the research group observed cosmic ray muons using a nuclear emulsion plate detector (a photographic film type elementary particle detector) installed in the descent passage, and discovered an unknown passage-like space extending north and south behind the chevron. had discovered.
This time, the research group identified with extremely high accuracy of several centimeters that this space is about 80 meters long with a cross section of about 2 m × 2 m, 9 cm behind the chevron surface.For this, a technology called multipoint cosmic-ray imaging is used, which utilizes the ability of muons (a type of elementary particle) in cosmic rays to penetrate even thick matter.It was also found that this space has a horizontal structure.
In the future, we will develop interdisciplinary interdisciplinary research such as the relationship with the huge space located in the center of the Pyramid of Khufu, which our research group discovered in 2017, and archaeological considerations on the role of space. It is expected that it will lead to the elucidation of the mystery of the pyramids.
Paper information:[Nature Communications] Precise characterization of a corridor-shaped structure in Khufu's Pyramid by observation of cosmic-ray muons
