Scientists find pyramid’s secret tunnel

Scientists have found a tunnel inside Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza. It's nine metres long and two metres wide.

It's hoped that the tunnel will teach us more about the secrets of the Great Pyramid. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu.

Zahi Hawass is one of the experts on the project.

Zahi Hawass: "Today, major important secrets have been revealed by technology for the first time, the discovery of a nine metres tunnel, and two metres and 10 centimetres wide, found behind the main entrance of the Great Pyramid, and this discovery will reveal to us many important facts about Khufu and his Pyramid."

Two centuries ago, experts needed to dig around the pyramid site, but these days, things work differently. The tunnel was found by the ScanPyramids project. The international team includes scientists from foreign universities and from Egypt. They used modern technology to discover the tunnel. So the pyramid wasn't damaged in any way.

The Great Pyramid was built 4,500 years ago and is the biggest in Egypt. It stands at 146 metres high. Today, it's the only structure left of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

Hawass believes this new tunnel could help historians find the body of King Khufu. Centuries ago, an empty tomb was found inside the pyramid.

Zahi Hawass: "I've always thought that the burial chamber of King Khufu hasn't been discovered yet. And I believe that there is a great possibility, and that's certain, that the tunnel is protecting something. In my opinion, it is protecting the actual burial chamber of King Khufu."

The Pyramid's secret may soon be out. View Less