Archaeologists left in complete shock after opening lost Ancient Egyptian pyramid for the first time ever
The pyramid had remained unopened for almost 4,000 years
Featured Image Credit: Adrian Pope / Getty
Archaeologists were uncovering a mystery after opening a hidden Egyptian pyramid for the very first time - only to be shocked by what they found inside.
The village of Dahshur is an ancient royal burial site known for its few remaining pyramids and buried ruins.
British Egyptologist and writer, Doctor Chris Naunton, described the area as a 'lunar-looking landscape.'
After uncovering finely cut limestone blocks, scientists discovered the remains of one pyramid that had been hidden under the sands for thousands of years.
Advert
They quickly informed the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities - the government department that preserves the country's ancient history and heritage - which led to a full-scale excavation.
The discovery was so momentous that it was featured in the 'Mystery of the Lost Pyramid' - a documentary film broadcast by the Smithsonian Channel.
After Egypt's Ministry of Antiquity granted permission for the grand opening, cameras 'reveal what lies within' the pyramid for the first time in over 4,000 years.
"The stairs lead to an underground complex, the heart of the pyramid," the narrator tells the audience. "These huge blocks are protecting the only access to the chamber and any mummy and treasure that may be hidden inside."
They added: "And unlike any other pyramid found so far, it still appears to be sealed."
But when they pried open the capstone, what they found inside left them 'shocked'.
Instead of a perfectly preserved tomb filled with treasures, the team found the chamber in complete 'disarray,' suggesting it had been looted beforehand.
"There are two questions here... who was buried here, who was this built for," Dr. Naunton explained.
"And secondly, how is it that an apparently completely sealed, unbreached burial chamber comes to have been disturbed?"
Interestingly, since the pyramid was sealed shut with the capstone, no one could confirm whether the burial had been completed before or after it was looted - including those responsible for sealing it. Dr. Naunton thought of this as 'the perfect crime.'
After researching the site, archaeologists eventually identified the remains as belonging to Princess Hatshepsut, a royal figure dating back to the early 13th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
Using advanced scanning technology, they deciphered damaged hieroglyphs on her canopic chest, identifying her name for the first time in history.
"This is a revelation," the narrator said. "There are no records of this newly discovered Princess Hatshepsut yet she was important enough to have been buried in her own pyramid."