After nearly two centuries of exploration, the nearly 4,500-year-old Sahure pyramid has revealed an unprecedented system of chambers, with a passage leading from the main burial chamber.
According to Heritage Daily and Ancient Origins, an Egyptian-German archaeological team, while conducting a restoration project on the dilapidated structures within the Sahure pyramid, accidentally discovered a ruined passage within the pyramid that leads to a system of eight previously unknown rooms.
The Sahure Pyramid, standing at 48 meters tall, is one of the most famous pyramids in Egypt, located in the Abu Sir necropolis south of Giza.
The renowned Sahure Pyramid and the area where scientists discovered the secret passage – (Photo: EGYPTIAN TOURISM MINISTRY).
This pyramid serves as the final resting place of Pharaoh Sahure, the second ruler of the Fifth Dynasty (circa 2465 to 2325 BC) during the Old Kingdom of Egypt.
The reign of Pharaoh Sahure is considered one of the most prosperous periods in terms of economy and culture, with many significant trade routes being established. This pharaoh also chose not to be buried in traditional royal cemeteries like Saqqara or Giza but instead opted to build his pyramid alone at Abusir.
Although smaller than the pyramids of his predecessors, the Sahure pyramid is more elaborate, featuring over 10,000 square meters of intricately carved reliefs, some of which are considered unique treasures in the history of Egyptian art.
Its interior was undoubtedly once very lavish, which is why this magnificent pyramid became a target for tomb robbers for millennia afterward.
However, during efforts to restore the severely damaged burial area, scientists inadvertently found a passageway.
Utilizing 3D laser scanning with a mobile LiDAR scanner, the research team led by Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled from the Egyptology Department at Julius-Maximilians University in Würzburg (Germany) is continuing to map the hidden areas of the pyramid.
They have yet to reach the end of the newly discovered rooms, but they believe that careful restoration and reinforcement will allow them to do so in the future.
Scientists in a reinforced passage inside the Sahure pyramid – (Photo: EGYPTIAN TOURISM MINISTRY).
Given the historical significance of this pyramid, the restoration process prioritizes ensuring the structural integrity of the site.
The archaeological team also believes that the recently discovered rooms may serve as storage chambers, potentially containing artifacts that promise to provide further details about the reign of Sahure.
