Chamber discovered deep within Great Pyramid of Giza could be missing piece of the puzzle

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They are renowned for their remarkable works of art and architecture, however, experts are also fascinated by the significant gaps and omissions that remain.

There exists an enormous, sealed space which, despite being empty, remains a source of great fascination for archaeologists.

The purpose of the room, which dates back to the time when the famous pyramid was finished over 4,500 years ago, has remained unclear since its discovery in 2017.

Back then, a team known as ScanPyramids scanned the Great Pyramid using a technique called muon tomography, which essentially employs cosmic rays to penetrate hundreds of metres of stone and identify what lies within.

By utilising this technology, the researchers stumbled upon an unusual room that had never been previously observed.

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This marks the first significant inner structure discovered in the Great Pyramid since the nineteenth century.

They have dubbed the chamber fittingly the "big void", and it now represents a significant gap in our knowledge of the famous Egyptian landmark.

A variety of theories are now in existence regarding the purpose of the space, with some suggesting it was a hidden burial site for Pharaoh Khufu, who commissioned the pyramid's construction.

When the pyramids were first excavated and explored in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered a number of chambers, including one that housed a sarcophagus believed to be that of Khufu himself.

However, when the sarcophagus was found to be empty.

It was, therefore, largely assumed that the remains of the king had been stolen. However, some experts had been suggesting for years - long before the "big void" was discovered - that somewhere within the pyramid there existed a secret, fourth chamber containing Khufu's mummy.

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The couple claimed that the pyramid wasn't carefully planned in advance, but rather developed as the building work progressed.

One of the duo, architect Gilles Dormion, proposed that the pyramid's builders must have had to modify their plans after discovering that certain chambers wouldn't be able to support the weight of the burial sarcophagus.

Dormion drew attention to the substantial fissures in the massive granite beams that line the king's chamber, which have traditionally been linked to the earthquakes that occurred after the pyramid's construction. He, on the other hand, proposed an opposing theory, suggesting that these cracks may have actually developed during the building process.

However, despite the fact that experts have yet to verify whether the "big void" is actually a hidden chamber belonging to Pharaoh Khufu, they may be able to confirm this soon.

To visualise the pyramid using more advanced muon technology.

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They stated that it "will image muons from almost all directions and will, for the first time, create a complete three-dimensional picture of such a large structure."

Two years have now passed since their work began, but as yet, it remains unfinished. Therefore, the location of Khufu's remains and the purpose of that concealed chamber continue to be a "big void" in our understanding of the Great Pyramid.

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