A controversial claim by Italian researchers about the existence of a vast underground city beneath Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza has sparked intense debate among archaeologists and Egyptologists. While some believe the discovery could change our understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization, others dismiss it as speculative and scientifically unproven.
Led by Professor Corrado Malanga from the University of Pisa, the research team asserts that radar scans have detected an extensive subterranean network beneath the pyramids. According to their findings, the images reveal vertical shafts, spiral staircases, and what appears to be an intricate water system stretching more than 2,000 feet (610 meters) below the surface. The researchers even speculate that this underground world could house the long-rumored Hall of Records, a legendary library linked to ancient Egyptian myths.
“When we enhance the images further, we believe we will expose what can only be described as a true underground city,” the team announced at a recent press conference in Italy.
However, these claims have met with strong skepticism from leading experts in the field. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar imaging specialist from the University of Denver, argues that the technology used—satellite radar pulses similar to sonar mapping—cannot penetrate the earth deeply enough to confirm such findings. He described the claims as “highly exaggerated,” though he acknowledged that smaller structures beneath the pyramids remain a possibility.
Similarly, renowned Egyptian archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass dismissed the claims outright, stating that they lack any scientific credibility. Speaking to The National, Dr. Hawass emphasized that there is no evidence to support the idea of a hidden city beneath the pyramids and called the researchers’ methods into question.
The findings by Professor Malanga and his colleagues, Filippo Biondi and Armando Mei, were presented during a briefing in Italy last week. However, their research has yet to undergo peer review, leaving the academic community unconvinced.
Focusing primarily on the Khafre Pyramid, one of the three iconic pyramids in the Giza complex, the study has reignited public interest in the mysteries surrounding these ancient structures. Built approximately 4,500 years ago along the west bank of the Nile, the pyramids continue to captivate researchers and historians alike.
Whether the latest claims will lead to groundbreaking discoveries or fade into speculation remains to be seen. Until further evidence is produced, the mystery of what truly lies beneath the Pyramids of Giza endures.
