Scientists find pyramid’s secret tunnel

Scientists have discovered a secret tunnel inside Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza, and it's created plenty of excitement. Nine metres in length and two metres in width, experts are hoping it will provide important information about King Khufu's tomb. Mystery surrounds this Egyptian Pharaoh.

Zahi Hawass is an expert in ancient Egypt. He's in charge of checking 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."

This new find avoided causing any damage to the Pyramid itself, which makes it different from historical discoveries. The hidden tunnel was found by a special project, 'ScanPyramids', which combines experts from Egypt with university scientists from abroad. The team made clever use of different technologies – thermography, radiography and the building of 3D computer models.

4,500 years old, the Great Pyramid is the largest in the country, and rises to 146 metres in height. Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, it's the only one still with us today.

Zahi Hawass is hoping this recent discovery could help locate where King Khufu was buried inside the pyramid. A stone sarcophagus was discovered centuries ago, but the Pharaoh's body was missing.

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 mystery may soon be solved. View Less