Scientists to scan 4 of Egypt's pyramids, seeking new discoveries

A man rides a camel past Khufu pyramid, the largest of pyramids at the historical site of the Giza Pyramids, near Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2013. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

CAIRO -- Scientists will scan four of Egypt's ancient pyramids starting next month using waves, particles and thermal imaging in order to see what lies beneath their surface.

Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty says the project will begin south of Cairo with the scanning of the so-called Bent Pyramid at Dashour, followed by the nearby Red Pyramid. Later, the two largest pyramids on the Giza plateau, those of Cheops and Chephren, will also be scanned. The structures are over 4,500 years old.

At a news conference, scientist Matthieu Klein of Canada's Laval University says his team will use infrared technology to scan several metres beneath the surface without touching the structures.

He says "there could be interesting things there, even a few meters deep, two or three blocks deep."