Physicists probe ancient pyramid

[ozone_man]

Physicists probe ancient pyramid

By Claire Marshall
in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Teotihuacan is known as the "City of the Gods"
The largest particle detector in Mexico is being built inside a pyramid in the ancient settlement of Teotihuacan.
The equipment will detect muons, tiny particles that are created when cosmic rays bombard the Earth's atmosphere.

Dr Arturo Menchaca and colleagues from Mexico's National Autonomous University hope that by tracking the muons through the pyramid, they can find cavities.

This could indicate whether the kings of the ancient people who built the site are also entombed within it.

(snip)

"The idea is to try to discover density variations in the pyramid," Dr Menchaca told BBC News Online.

"In order to do that you either need to drill holes, or find something that goes across your volume.


It will be another year before tangible results are obtained
"These cosmic rays are very penetrating radiation. Some of them go through this pyramid, and some of them are absorbed.

"The amount which is absorbed depends on the material which it finds. If we find more muons than we expect, then there is less matter in that part of the pyramid".

Less matter could indicate the cavity of a burial chamber.

This experiment taking place beneath the Pyramid of the Sun is already attracting the attention of the nation.

(more)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3710735.stm

[sybylla]

1. Cool - an awesome city to investigate

I'm glad to hear they are seeking tools and techniques that are non-invasive as they search for an understanding of the Aztec culture. Destroying something to study it seems counterproductive in an archaeological setting.

[emad]

2. A pic: