From an ancient tattooed sorceress ... to King Tut’s cosmic dagger … Here are 11 Mind-Boggling Discoveries Made In Pyramids
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#6 King Tut’s Cosmic Dagger
While it had been plundered in ancient times, Tutankhamun's tomb was nearly intact when it was discovered in 1922. Over 5,000 items were recovered in the well-preserved structure. That included a mysterious, ornate dagger that was said to be crafted with iron that came from a meteorite. Experts would later confirm that such was the case. When King Tut died in 1323 BC iron was considered more valuable than gold, and was reserved for ceremonial purposes. In those times metal obtained from meteorites was called “iron from the sky”!
#5 An Army for the Afterlife
Pyramidal (puh-ram-uh-dull) structures in China date back thousands of years. But they remained relatively unknown to the western world until the early 20th century. The pyramids are typically ancient mausoleums, or burial mounds that held the remains of early emperors and their families. The best-known structure is the Mausoleum of the First Qin (kin) Emperor. It’s located beneath a mound that stands some 76 meters tall (250 feet) and has a pyramidal (pur-RAM-ih-dul) shape. Chances are you know this site for the Terracotta Army discovered there in 1974. It was comprised of more than 8,000 small clay soldiers that were meant to protect the emperor in the afterlife. Along with the soldiers, archaeologists also found various weapons lined up along various clay corridors. With an estimated age exceeding 2,000 years, most of this complex is still unexcavated. And that includes the emperor’s tomb.
#4 Some Extra Space
A building that stands 481 feet (146 m) high might not seem so tall these days. But for some 3,800 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the world’s tallest man-made structure. It is also the largest and oldest of the three pyramids found in what is now El Giza in Egypt. Since first being excavated with modern scientific techniques in 1880, you would think that most of the pyramid’s three chambers have been pretty well explored and documented by now. But in 2017, scientists using high tech equipment that can detect cosmic rays discovered evidence of a previously unknown cavity located in the Grand Gallery. That mysterious space measures at least 100 feet long (30 m). And experts say it is the first significant structure found inside the 4,500-year old pyramid since the 19th century. So far, the space is inaccessible, and its purpose is still unknown. What do you think it could be?
#3 Secret Tunnels
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent is known as the 3rd largest pyramid found at the site of Teotihuacan (t’ow-wah-tee-wah-kahn) in Mexico. In the 1980s more than 200 sacrificial burials were discovered at the step pyramid. But in 2003 archaeologists found something there that had been sealed off for some 1,800 years: A corridor that runs nearly 100 meters long (328 feet) was discovered about 14 meters (46 feet) underground. The tunnel leads to a series of subterranean galleries carved out of the rocks. A huge array of objects was unearthed including greenstone statues, jade-encrusted wooden masks, sculptures of jaguars, and hundreds of clay spheres covered in pyrites, or fools gold. One of the most remarkable things found there was a miniature mountainous landscape with lakes made from tiny pools of liquid mercury. No one knows what it was used for or why it was built. If you have any ideas, tell us in the comments below!
#2 Mummified Animals
The pyramids of Egypt are known for their burial chambers containing mummies. But in addition to human remains, mummified animals have also been discovered. While humans underwent the process to preserve their bodies for the afterlife, animal mummies were often used as a type of religious offering. Experts say that many of the creatures were probably cherished pets that would accompany their masters on their journey after death. Experts think that more than 70 million animal mummies could have been produced in Ancient Egypt, with huge numbers of them buried in underground catacombs across Egypt. While cats have often been found, the mummified remains of dogs, birds, crocodiles, rams, baboons, and entire bulls have also been discovered. The practice wasn’t restricted to Egypt. The mummified remains of animals including wolves and pumas have been found in ancient pyramids in Mexico.
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