A long-hidden narrow void in the Great Pyramid of Giza has been found by scientists in a discovery that could finally reveal the secrets of the 4,500-year-old monument.

The void stretches for at least 30 metres (100ft) above the Grand Gallery – an ascending corridor that links the Queen’s chamber to the King’s in the heart of the pyramid.

It is not known why the void exists or if there are any valuable artefacts inside.

Researchers suggest it could be a ‘construction gap’ – part of a trench that allowed workers to access the Grand Gallery and King’s Chamber while the rest of the pyramid was built.

The discovery was made after physicists took images of the inside of the pyramid using particles fired to Earth from space. These cosmic particles penetrate the rock in a similar way to X-rays, only much deeper. The collaborative effort, between archaeologists, historians and physicists, has been hailed as the biggest discovery inside the Giza landmark since the 19th century.

Made under the watch of the Pharaoh Khufu and completed in around 2550 BC, Egypt’s Great Pyramid, or the Pyramid of Giza, served as the world’s tallest man-made construction for thousands of years.

How it was built has long been a bone of academic contention and there is no universal agreement about its creation. Scientists say the latest discovery, published in the journal Nature, could help shed light on its construction.

The structure, also known as Khufu’s Pyramid, is the sole survivor of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World.

Read more at the Daily Mail.