The newly revealed opening at the top of the Great Sphinx of Giza—documented during a recent conservation survey—has drawn significant attention from archaeologists worldwide. Although the Sphinx has been studied for over two centuries, the chamber-like depression shown in the image resurfaced through high-resolution drone mapping and sand-removal operations conducted between 2020 and 2023. The monument itself dates to approximately 2600–2500 BCE, traditionally attributed to Pharaoh Khafre of the Fourth Dynasty. Situated on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile, the Sphinx has endured millennia of erosion, ritual activity, and cycles of excavation. This newly re-exposed feature represents one of the least-documented structural modifications ever observed on the statue. The discovery team—comprised of archaeologists from the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities and the Giza Conservation Project—confirmed that the cavity was first recorded in the 1920s but was later buried by natural sediment.

The chamber-like cut appears to be carved directly into the uppermost layer of Eocene limestone, the same geological material from which the Sphinx’s head and body were sculpted. This limestone varies significantly in density, with the upper head composed of harder strata. The circular opening visible in the inset pH๏τograph reveals fine-grain limestone interspersed with harder nodules. According to the conservation team, the smoother edges of the cavity indicate deliberate human modification rather than mere erosion. Tool marks represented by shallow parallel grooves are consistent with copper chisels and dolerite pounders—typical tools used by Old Kingdom stoneworkers. Sediment analysis from the interior suggests the cavity had remained sealed for decades under wind-blown desert sands.

The design of the cavity suggests that it may have been created during a secondary modification phase rather than at the statue’s original construction. Archaeologists propose two possibilities: (1) the cavity was carved during a repair campaign in the New Kingdom (c. 1400–1200 BCE), when the Sphinx underwent major restoration; or (2) it functioned as an anchor point for a ceremonial or structural component placed atop the Sphinx’s head. The precision of the circular cut hints at geometric planning. Tool-scar patterns measured through pH๏τogrammetry indicate repeated hammering motions consistent with controlled shaping rather than exploratory drilling. The interior smoothness may reflect application of a plaster-like compound used by ancient restorers.

The purpose of the cavity remains debated. One theory suggests it once held a fixing socket for a crown or emblem, possibly the nemes headdress or uraeus symbol that might have adorned the Sphinx in antiquity. Another theory proposes a ritual function, serving as a receptacle for offerings during New Kingdom restoration ceremonies. Alternatively, engineers have proposed that the cavity could represent an early attempt at stabilizing the weather-damaged cranium. Although no artifacts have been recovered from within the chamber, the structural location—directly at the crown of the head—supports interpretations tied to royal symbolism and ritualized kingship.

The re-identification of the cavity was led by the Giza Conservation Project, in partnership with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. Specialists in geology, structural engineering, and Egyptology collaborated to document the feature using drone-based pH๏τogrammetry, laser scanning, and micro-erosion analysis. Their preliminary report emphasizes the need for further subsurface imaging to determine the depth and structural history of the chamber. Future work may include endoscopic exploration and mineralogical sampling. As one of the most enigmatic features of the Sphinx, the cavity may hold invaluable clues about restoration practices and symbolic modification carried out across more than 3,000 years of the monument’s history.