Egypt to Scan Pyramids, Seeking New Discoveries

The Great Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza, south of Cairo, are lit up in blue as part of the 'Turn the World U.N. Blue' global campaign to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, on Oct. 24, 2015. (Khaled Desouki/AFP/Getty Images)

CAIRO—Scientists will scan four of Egypt’s ancient pyramids starting next month using waves, particles, and thermal imaging in order to see what lies beneath their surface.

Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty says the project will begin south of Cairo with the scanning of the so-called Bent Pyramid at Dashour, followed by the nearby Red Pyramid. Later, the two largest pyramids on the Giza plateau, those of Cheops and Chephren, will also be scanned. The structures are over 4,500 years old.

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At a news conference, scientist Matthieu Klein of Canada’s Laval University says his team will use infrared technology to scan several meters (yards) beneath the surface without touching the structures.

He says “there could be interesting things there, even a few meters deep, two or three blocks deep.”