Secrets of the Great Pyramid

For more than 4,500 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza has towered over the Egyptian desert. This famous structure is filled with mystery. What treasures might be hidden inside it? And how exactly was it built? People have been hunting for answers to those questions for centuries.

A team of scientists joined the hunt in 2015. Working on a project called ScanPyramids, they used modern machines to examine parts of the pyramid that people can’t reach.

Earlier this year, the team announced a big discovery. They had found a hidden corridor inside the pyramid. Will that discovery lead to more answers?

The Great Pyramid of Giza towers over the Egyptian desert. It has stood for more than 4,500 years. This famous structure is filled with mystery. What treasures might be hidden inside it? How exactly was it built? People have been hunting for answers to those questions for centuries.

A team of scientists joined the hunt in 2015. They are working on a project called ScanPyramids. They use modern machines to examine parts of the pyramid that people can’t reach.

Earlier this year, the team announced a big discovery. They had found a hidden corridor inside the pyramid. Will that discovery lead to more answers?

The ScanPyramids team hopes to solve the pyramid’s mysteries. But it hasn’t been easy. Scientists and tourists can explore some rooms inside the pyramid. But other areas are unreachable. So scientists use special technology that allows them to “see” behind walls without damaging them. 

Using that technology, the team first discovered the hidden passage a few years ago. But they didn’t know what it was. Was the passage a burial chamber or a room filled with treasures? 

To find out, scientists used a tiny camera called an endoscope. They pushed the camera through a crack in the pyramid’s stones. The camera took images of the space—which was empty.

But experts say the space is actually an important clue. It may have been created to support some of the pyramid’s weight. That likely prevented the entrance below from collapsing. 

Scientists still have a lot of unanswered questions about the Great Pyramid. They hope advances in technology will lead to more discoveries.

The ScanPyramids team hopes to solve the pyramid’s mysteries. But it hasn’t been easy. Scientists and tourists can explore some rooms inside the pyramid. But other areas are unreachable. So scientists use special technology. This allows them to “see” behind walls without damaging them. 

Using that technology, the team first discovered the hidden passage a few years ago. But they didn’t know what it was. Was the passage a burial chamber? Was it a room filled with treasures? 

To find out, scientists used a tiny camera called an endoscope. They pushed the camera through a crack in the pyramid’s stones. The camera took images of the space. It was empty.

But experts say the space is actually an important clue. It may have been created to support some of the pyramid’s weight. That likely prevented the entrance below from collapsing. 

Scientists still have a lot of unanswered questions about the Great Pyramid. They hope advances in technology will lead to more discoveries. 

1. What are some questions people still have about the Great Pyramid?
2. What is the section “Building a Giant” mostly about?
3. What are two facts you can learn from the sidebar “A Quick Guide to Ancient Egypt”?

1. What are some questions people still have about the Great Pyramid?
2. What is the section “Building a Giant” mostly about?
3. What are two facts you can learn from the sidebar “A Quick Guide to Ancient Egypt”?