CAIRO, Oct. 25 (Aswat Masriya) - Starting November, Egypt will start scanning four pyramids, including two in Giza, in an international joint project that will continue until the end of 2016, the minister of antiquities said on Sunday.

Minister Mamdouh al-Damaty told a press conference that the projects aims to "penetrate the hearts of the Egyptian pyramids," without digging by using the latest scientific methods.

The four pyramids include the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid of Dahshur, which lies about 40 kilometres south of Cairo and were built by King Sneferu, the founder of the fourth dynasty.

They also include the Great Pyramid of Giza, the only surviving site of the seven ancient wonders of the world and the Pyramid of Khafre, the second largest of the three famed Giza pyramids.

Cairo University Professor Hany Helal, the project's chief coordinator, said that there are four "non-detrimental" surveying methods that will be used in the project: muon particle radiography, cosmic radiography, thermal imaging using infrared rays and optical surveying followed by three-dimensional remodeling. 

Earlier the state's press centre said in a statement that the pyramids will be scanned using "non-invasive and non-destructive surveying techniques." 

The project is coordination effort between several institutes including universities in Canada and Japan and a team of experts from Egypt, Canada, Japan and France. 

What is now modern-day Egypt was once home to the Pharaonic civilisation which spanned several dynasties and is one of the oldest civilisations in history.