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Space dust to unlock Mexican pyramid secrets
Reuters via MSNBC ^
| Updated: 01:58 PM PT March16, 2004
| By Alistair Bell
Posted on 03/18/2004 5:34:06 PM PST by vannrox
Space dust to unlock Mexican pyramid secrets
Muon detector could point scientists to hidden burial chambers
![](http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/040316/040316_mexico_pyramids_hlg2p.h2.jpg)
Two vendors sit near the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, where physicists are using a muon detector to look for hidden burial chambers.
TEOTIHUACAN, Mexico - Remnants of space dust that constantly shower the world are helping unlock the secrets of a 2,000-year-old Mexican pyramid where the rulers of a mysterious civilization may lie buried.
Deep under the huge Pyramid of the Sun, north of Mexico City, physicists are installing a device to detect muons, subatomic particles that are left over when cosmic rays hit Earth.
The particles pass through solid objects, leaving tiny traces which the detector will measure, like an X-ray machine, in a search for burial chambers inside the monolith.
Since there are fewer muons in an empty space than in solid rock or earth, scientists will be able to spot any holes inside the pyramid, a sacred site in the city of Teotihuacan, which rose and fell around the same time as ancient Rome.
"If we detect an area where there is less density than expected, that gives us an indication that there is probably a hole there," said Arturo Menchaca, head of the National Autonomous University's physics institute.
Who ruled Teotihuacan?
Archaeologists would then likely tunnel into the pyramid in the hope of finding a burial chamber and solving the riddle of who ruled the city now known as Teotihuacan, also home to the smaller Pyramid of the Moon and a huge temple to a fierce serpent god.
Housing 150,000 people at its apogee, the city exerted influence over territory stretching hundreds of miles, to modern-day Guatemala, but no one knows its true ancient name or who its founders were.
The name Teotihuacan ("The Place Where Men Become Gods") was given by awed Aztecs who inhabited the area 700 years after the city was abandoned around A.D. 600. The Aztecs were stunned by the monumental buildings and precise city planning.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Mexico; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ancient; archaeology; chamber; detector; dust; exploration; explore; ggg; godsgravesglyphs; history; luisalvarez; mexico; muography; muon; muons; muontomography; nasa; orbit; past; pyramid; pyramids; science; secret; space; unknown
COOL
1
posted on
03/18/2004 5:34:07 PM PST
by
vannrox
To: vannrox; LadyShallott
Bump for science and wife ping
2
posted on
03/18/2004 5:37:16 PM PST
by
chance33_98
(Profile Page Updated: Press Releases Links added (at bottom), if you need a banner let me know!)
To: vannrox
Cool is right...
I remember some years ago when I was climbing to the top, and some stupid tourists were actually buying pots and things from the hawkers on the stairs on the way UP !
3
posted on
03/18/2004 5:56:24 PM PST
by
RS
(Just because they're out to get him doesn't mean he's not guilty)
To: vannrox
How do they know there is a burial chamber in the thing?
4
posted on
03/18/2004 6:00:52 PM PST
by
Sam Cree
(Democrats are herd animals)
To: vannrox
Look! Look! The pyramid is opening up!
Which one? Which ONE!?
The one with the everwidening hole.
Now look, the sun is going down!
No, no my boy, the horizon is moving up!
I know, lets stand him on his head.
NOW it's morrrrrrning!
5
posted on
03/18/2004 6:21:33 PM PST
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: blam
Ping
6
posted on
03/18/2004 6:23:29 PM PST
by
Fiddlstix
(This Space Available for Rent or Lease by the Day, Week, or Month. Reasonable Rates. Inquire within.)
To: Fiddlstix
7
posted on
03/18/2004 6:38:50 PM PST
by
blam
To: blam
Thanks for the ping. Already covered here last month.
Muons To Unlock Secrets Of Teotihuacan
So????????????? Party Pooper.
8
posted on
03/18/2004 7:44:03 PM PST
by
Ethyl
To: Ethyl
"So????????????? Party Pooper." Yes, you're correct. I'll keep my mouth shut from now on.
9
posted on
03/18/2004 8:00:45 PM PST
by
blam
To: vannrox
SPOTREP - SCIENCE
11
posted on
12/09/2007 9:24:32 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(Profile updated Monday, December 10, 2007____________________https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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