Italian and Scottish researchers claim they found a major discovery beneath the Pyramids of Giza, potentially rewriting the history of ancient Egypt. Using radar technology, the team led by Corrado Malanga from Italy's University of Pisa and Filippo Biondi from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland announced the findings of what they describe as a vast underground city stretching more than 6,500 feet directly beneath the pyramids.
"This groundbreaking study has redefined the boundaries of satellite data analysis and archaeological exploration," said the project's spokesperson, Nicole Ciccolo, according to The Sun. She elaborated that the discovery "could redefine our understanding of the sacred topography of ancient Egypt, providing spatial coordinates for previously unknown and unexplored subterranean structures."
The researchers used a new radar technology known as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which combines satellite radar data with tiny vibrations from naturally occurring seismic movements. The radar was used to create high-resolution three-dimensional images of underground structures, a method similar to using sonar to map the ocean floor. Their study, still awaiting peer review, suggests that the complex is ten times larger than the pyramids themselves.
The team claims to have discovered eight vertical cylinder-shaped structures, referred to as shafts, extending approximately 2,100 feet deep beneath the pyramids. Each shaft is said to be surrounded by spiral pathways that connect to two 80-meter cube-shaped structures. Above these, they reportedly found five multi-level structures connected by passageways.
"The existence of vast chambers beneath the earth's surface, comparable in size to the pyramids themselves, has a remarkably strong correlation with the legendary Halls of Amenti," Ciccolo stated. She explained that the cylindrical structures were found underneath each of the three pyramids and appear "to serve as access points to this underground system."
Several experts have expressed skepticism regarding these claims. Independent experts, including Professor Lawrence Conyers, have raised serious concerns about the study. "I could not tell if the technology used actually picked up hidden structures below the pyramid," Conyers told Daily Mail, calling the claims of a vast city underneath the pyramids "a huge exaggeration."
He acknowledged that while small structures such as shafts and chambers might exist beneath the pyramids, the idea of a vast underground city is questionable. "The Mayans and other people in ancient Mesoamerica often built pyramids on top of the entrances of caves or caverns that had ceremonial meaning to them," he explained, according to The Sun. "It is conceivable there are small structures, such as shafts and chambers, beneath the pyramids that existed before they were built because the site was special to ancient people."
Critics point out that SAR technology typically excels at detecting shallower features, and its effectiveness diminishes significantly beyond a few meters in solid geological formations.
Despite the skepticism, the findings have sparked excitement online. Posts on social media platform X have fueled speculation, with some users suggesting that the structures could support alternative theories about the pyramids functioning as ancient energy systems rather than burial sites—a notion supported by figures such as Nikola Tesla and Christopher Dunn.
"The megastructure they just found underneath the Giza Pyramids is probably the most important discovery to ever be made in our lifetimes," one user posted, according to Marca. Others have shared similar sentiments, blending hard science with speculative theories.
The researchers hope to continue their research but acknowledges that securing approval from the authorities to excavate the area is incredibly tough.
"Despite the skepticism, the only way to prove the discoveries are true is through targeted excavations," Conyers added, according to Daily Mail.
The Giza complex, consisting of the pyramids Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, built about 4,500 years ago on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River in northern Egypt, has long been a subject of intrigue and speculation. Traditionally believed to be royal tombs, these new claims, if substantiated, could potentially challenge the widely accepted understanding of their purpose.
While the idea of a hidden underground city is tantalizing, the current evidence remains unverified. Until more concrete data—such as peer-reviewed papers or excavation results—emerges, the scientific community urges caution. The Egyptian government, historically cautious about excavations that challenge established narratives, has not commented on the claims.
Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass vehemently denied the existence of columns beneath the tomb of King Khafre, calling such claims "baseless" and lacking any scientific evidence.
"The rumors that have spread about the Egyptian pyramids that there are columns under King Khafre's pyramid have no basis in truth, and there is no scientific evidence to support this claim, and there are no missions working in King Khafre's pyramid now," Hawass stated on his official Facebook page, according to Sabq. He emphasized that the Supreme Council of Antiquities has not granted any permits for work inside King Khafre's pyramid.
"No radar devices or modern technologies have been used to detect alleged structures beneath the Khafre Pyramid," pointed out Hawass, the former Minister of Antiquities, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the claims as "an attempt to undermine ancient Egyptian civilization," adding that "these are failed attempts, and these rumors will go to the dustbin of history," according to Al Arabiya.
The claims made by Malanga and Biondi “fall within the realm of exaggeration and deception," said Dr. Hussein Abdel-Basir, Director of the Antiquities Museum at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, according to Asharq Al-Awsat. He stressed that "any real scientific discovery in the field of archaeology must be published first in a reliable scientific journal after careful review by independent experts."
Abdel-Basir pointed out that “geophysical techniques, such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) or seismic analysis, can scan limited depths, not exceeding tens of meters at best."
"The details they announced could not have been detected using such methods," remarked Hawass, according to Al-Ahram.
The researchers also linked their findings to the mythical Halls of Amenti and the Hall of Records—legendary chambers said to contain lost knowledge of ancient Egypt. Project spokesperson Nicole Ciccolo described a "strong correlation" between the detected structures and these ancient legends, particularly those associated with the god Thoth.
In the days following the announcement, the debate gained further attention as Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna shared a post about the findings on her X page, amplifying the claims on social media, according to the Daily Mail.
Scrutiny has been directed at Professor Malanga’s background, with critics highlighting his reputation as a UFOlogist known for appearing on programs discussing extraterrestrial life and promoting fringe theories about the pyramids.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.