On the east side of the Menkaure pyramid, the smallest of the famous Giza pyramid complex, there may be two hidden secondary entrances. The discovery was published recently by the team ScanPyramidsa Franco-Egyptian collaboration aimed at studying the pyramids using non-invasive techniques. The Menkaure pyramid, 65 meters high, is the smallest and most recent of the large necropolar complex. It was built for the pharaoh Menkaure (Menkaure), son and successor of Chefren, during his reign, which lasted from 2532 to 2503 BC. C. The ScanPyramids study group, led by Khalid Helal of Cairo University, studied the eastern façade of the pyramid, characterized by the presence of more refined granite blocks than those on the other sides.
These analyzes were carried out with non-invasive techniques, the aim of which is to look for voids within large structures, which could signal the presence of open environments or spaces. The techniques in question were:
- The ERT (Electrical Resistivity Tomography), which by measuring the resistivity of the materials through which the current passes allows voids to be identified;
- The GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar), a radar which uses electromagnetic pulses to highlight any anomalies;
- The FSO (Ultrasonic Testing), which thanks to ultrasound can identify voids.
The researchers of the project ScanPyramids they cross-referenced the data returned by all three analysis techniques on a model, and noticed the presence of two anomalies (probably voids within the structure), very close to each other: these, called A1 and A2, are located immediately behind some of the best-worked blocks on the eastern façade of the pyramid. A1 is located behind a trapezoidal block (1.5×1 m), while A2 is located a little further to the left (measuring 0.9×0.7 m).
The existence of a possible second access to the pyramid had already been postulated for some time. Despite its smaller dimensions than the other two, the Menkaure pyramid is the best preserved of the complex, and has unique structural characteristics. The discovery of these two anomalies could therefore reopen archaeological interest in the building, which in the last century has been studied much less than (the last excavations date back to the period 1906-1910, by the American archaeologist Reisner) the pyramids of Cheops and Chefren.
