Hidden voids discovered in the Pyramid of Menkaure in Egypt
Researchers have uncovered two hidden air-filled voids behind the eastern façade of the Pyramid of Menkaure in Giza, offering the first concrete evidence to support a long-standing hypothesis about a previously unknown entrance to this ancient structure. Announced this week by an international team from Cairo University and the Technical University of Munich, the findings mark a breakthrough for the ScanPyramids project, which systematically studies Egypt's iconic pyramids using non-invasive scanning technologies.
Advanced techniques reveal structural anomalies
Using ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound, and electrical resistivity tomography, the team detected these anomalies, measuring approximately 1 meter by 1.5 meters and 0.9 meters by 0.7 meters, located 1.4 meters and 1.13 meters beneath the outer surface, respectively. This marks the first time structural anomalies have been identified behind the polished granite blocks of the pyramid’s eastern face. This specific area, measuring about 4 meters high and 6 meters wide, has intrigued researchers for years.
Polished stones suggest a possible entrance
The finely finished granite blocks of the eastern façade resemble the craftsmanship seen only at the known northern entrance of the pyramid. This observation led researcher Stijn van den Hoven to hypothesize a potential second entrance in 2019. Christian Grosse, a professor of non-destructive testing at the Technical University of Munich, highlighted the significance of this discovery: “Following the validation of a hidden corridor in the Great Pyramid of Khufu in 2023, ScanPyramids has once again made a major breakthrough in Giza. The testing methodology we developed allows us to draw precise conclusions about the pyramid’s interior without damaging its invaluable structure. The hypothesis of another entrance is highly plausible, and our findings bring us significantly closer to confirming it.”
The detection was made possible through an advanced image fusion methodology, combining data from the three scanning techniques into composite visualizations. The study was published in the journal NDT & E International and conducted in collaboration with Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Ancient mystery revisited
Rising over 60 meters, the Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of Giza's three main pyramids and was built as a tomb for King Menkaure of the Fourth Dynasty around the 26th century BCE. The ScanPyramids project previously made headlines in 2023 when it confirmed the existence of a hidden corridor in the neighboring Great Pyramid of Khufu using similar non-invasive techniques. This latest discovery adds a new chapter to the ongoing exploration of Egypt's ancient architectural wonders.
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