Researchers from Cairo University and the Technical University of Munich have used advanced scanning techniques to reveal two previously unknown air-filled spaces within Giza’s Menkaure pyramid. The smallest of the three main pyramids on Cairo’s Giza plateau, Menkaure was built for the Fourth Dynasty ruler Menkaure in the 26th century BC. Although excavated between 1906 and 1910, it has not been fully explored since then.

The discovery supports a theory suggested by researcher Stijn van den Hoven that there is a second entrance at its eastern facade, an area distinguished from the rest of the structure due to its unusually smooth surface. This resemblance to the north-facing main entrance adds weight to the hypothesis.

Part of the ScanPyramids project, which began in 2015 and uses non-invasive technologies like ground-penetrating radar, ultrasound, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), this finding marks a significant step towards confirming the existence of these hidden chambers. The team’s methodology allows precise conclusions to be drawn about the pyramid's interior without damaging the structure.

Since 2015, ScanPyramids has explored several ancient monuments, including the Great Pyramid of Giza in 2023 where a previously undiscovered corridor was found using advanced scanning techniques. The team believes that these findings could lead to a better understanding of how these monumental structures were constructed and used.

The results from this latest discovery take us closer to confirming the hypothesis that Menkaure pyramid may hold more secrets, potentially adding to our knowledge of ancient Egyptian civilization and its architectural achievements.