Previously undocumented storage rooms were discovered at the pyramid of Sahure, the second king of ancient Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty, who reigned around 4,500 years ago. The discovery represents a significant milestone in the understanding of the Sahure Pyramid and its historical significance.
More stories:
The storage rooms were uncovered by a joint Egyptian-German team led by Egyptologist Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled from the Department of Egyptology at the University of Julius Maximilian in Würzburg, Germany.
Researchers said that the discovery sheds new light on the architecture of the pyramid built during the reign of Sahure, who ruled during ancient Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty (2487-2477 BC). He was not only the first king to build his pyramid complex at Abu Sir but was the first to be buried there. The village is located about 25 kilometers southwest of Cairo.
Sahure Pyramid’s preservation and restoration project, supported by the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), aims to protect the ancient pyramid’s infrastructure. The team's efforts focused on cleaning the interior rooms, stabilizing the pyramid from the inside, and preventing its collapse.
During these operations, the team managed to secure the burial chambers, which were previously inaccessible. During the restoration work, team members discovered the original dimensions and layout of the front chamber. The damaged walls were replaced with new supporting walls. The eastern wall of the front chamber was severely damaged, and only the northeast corner and about 30 centimeters of the eastern wall were still visible.
4 View gallery
Left to right: Pyramid of Sahure, supported passage inside the pyramid, one of the storage rooms discovered
(Photo: Mohamed Khaled)
Traces of a passage that connected separate chambers, which John Shae Perring, a British engineer, anthropologist, and Egyptologist, first noticed during excavations in 1836, have continued to be explored. Perring noted at the time that the passage was filled with debris and was impassable due to deteriorated conditions. He suspected that it might lead to storage rooms. However, during a subsequent research project focusing on the pyramid’s interior led by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt in 1907, his assumptions were cast into doubt as other experts joined the debate.
The recent discovery appears to be groundbreaking, as the Egyptian-German team uncovered the traces of the passage, providing evidence that Perring's observations were accurate. After extensive excavation efforts within the pyramid, the passage was cleared and revealed to be leading to eight storage chambers inside the pyramid.
Although the northern and southern portions of these chambers, particularly the original ceiling, and floor, have suffered severe damage, remnants of the original walls and parts of the flooring from the period when the pyramid was constructed can still be seen. While these elements may be smaller compared to those of pyramids from the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt, they remain equally significant finds.
A meticulous documentation of the pyramid’s construction plans, including the flooring and the dimensions of each storage chamber, significantly enhances researchers' understanding of the pyramid’s interior. During the restoration process, the team worked to ensure the structural integrity of the chambers while making them accessible for future research and potential public presentation.
The team collaborated with a specialized 3D scanning team utilizing advanced technology, including three-dimensional laser scanning with a mobile LiDAR scanner to conduct detailed scans within the pyramid's walls.
This advanced technology allowed for comprehensive mapping of both the expansive external areas and the narrow passageways and chambers inside the monumental building. Frequent scans provided real-time updates on the team’s progress and generated a constant record of research efforts.
This groundbreaking project represents a significant milestone in understanding the Pyramid of Sahure and its historical implications. The discovery and restoration of these storage chambers are expected to revolutionize the historical understanding of pyramid structures and challenge existing paradigms in the field.