Robot captures never-before-seen footage uncovering secrets from inside Great Pyramid of Giza
Archeological digs and attempts to understand the ancient Egyptian culture has continued for hundreds of years.
And it makes sense, as the Great Pyramid of Giza is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
Most people will admit they have been obsessed with the structure at one point or another and have at least one video insisting they were built by aliens.
But archeologists on the ground have previously been limited, in part, on how they can explore the pyramid. Some sections of the 4,500-year-old structure have even been too small for humans to get to inside.
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Interestingly enough, the secret hatch was discovered way back in 1993 but archeologists did not have the technology necessary to properly explore the area.
Until now that is, as a robot has obtained never-before-seen footage from unexplored areas of the pyramid. Check it out below:
What's described as a 'blocking stone' in the Queen's Chamber was discovered in the pyramid in 1993, but what was behind it and the purpose of it has long remained a mystery.
The shaft sits at an awkward 40-degree angle, and measures only 20cm by 20cm.
While only small, it goes back as a far as 60 meters.
Fast forward to 2011 and a team of researchers decided to create a robot that could film the inside of the shaft to see what was inside.
Dubbed 'The Djedi Project', international and Egyptian experts came together to create the device.
The team was managed by the University of Leeds, UK, and supported by Dassault Systèmes in France.
Speaking about the robot, Professor Rob Richardson, part of the Robotics at Leeds research group, said: "This design was certainly challenging. The robot had to be extremely lightweight - and in the end we got it down to 5kg.
"Because it was so light, it did not require a lot of power - in the end, the challenges started to become opportunities.
"We developed a system that moved the robot very gently through the passageway."
While challenging, the team successfully managed to develop the robot. It took them five years to create.
The project went on to film and whopping nine hours of raw footage, and the footage unveiled some secrets from within the shaft.
"About 50 meters along the shaft - several meters before what we think is the end, there is a stone put in place to block further access," said Professor Richardson.
"We do not know what that stone is blocking access to. We were able to get a camera past the stone - it revealed a small chamber with intricate symbols painted on the floor."
With the artwork in mind, Professor Richardson suggested that the shaft 'served a bigger purpose than act as an air vent'.
That purpose is still unclear, however.
Topics: Technology, World News, Egypt
Gerrard Kaonga