Egypt To Scan Ancient Pyramids With Cosmic Rays

ImageContent(562de397e4b0aac0b8fd508e,562de058140000e800c7ac86,Image,HectorAssetUrl(562de058140000e800c7ac86.jpeg,Some(),Some(jpeg)),Credit: Donyanedomam/Getty Images,The Pyramid of Chephren, pictured here on the right, is one of four Egyptian pyramids to be scanned by scientists in the coming months.) The study of archaeology can be a double-edged sword. As renowned archaeologist Kristen Romey put it in 2012 while discussing the fate of the as-yet unopened tomb of China's first emperor, it’s “ultimately a destructive science. You have to destroy stuff in order to learn about it.” But now, thanks to advanced technology, it seems scientists may be able to take a peek deep inside some of the world’s most prized ancient sites -- without wrecking a thing. According to Forbes, there are currently plans to use cosmic rays and other techniques to scan some of Egypt’s ancient pyramids, including the two largest Pyramids of Giza. The project, entitled Scan Pyramids, will reportedly allow scientists to see inside the ancient structures, offering a glimpse into the pyramids’ architecture and interior design. Hidden chambers could also be revealed. “The survey will be implemented through invasive -- though non-destructive -- scanning techniques using cosmic rays in cooperation with scientists and experts from Japan, France and Canada,” Egypt’s antiquities minister, Mamdouh Eldamaty, told Ahram Online. Eldamaty repo...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news