Lost city beneath Giza Pyramids? Experts dismiss shocking claim

The Pyramids of Giza have stood as marvels of engineering for over 4,500 years, captivating archaeologists and historians alike. Recently, a bold claim has emerged suggesting that an enormous underground city—ten times the size of the pyramids—lies beneath the Giza complex. Researchers from Italy and Scotland assert that their radar-based study has revealed massive cylindrical structures extending thousands of feet underground.

However, leading experts have swiftly dismissed the claim, arguing that the limitations of modern scanning technology, along with the well-documented construction methods of the ancient Egyptians, make such a discovery highly improbable.

Did Scientists Really Discover an Underground City Beneath the Giza Pyramids?

The research team, led by Corrado Malanga of Italy’s University of Pisa and Filippo Biondi from the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, used a sonar-like radar technique to map the subsurface of the Giza Plateau. Their study, which has yet to undergo peer review, claims to have uncovered eight massive cylindrical formations stretching 2,100 feet below ground, along with additional unidentified structures reaching 4,000 feet in depth.

According to project spokesperson Nicole Ciccolo, this discovery represents a breakthrough in satellite data analysis, potentially redefining the boundaries of archaeology. However, despite the dramatic announcement, skepticism within the academic community has been swift and widespread.

Why Experts Reject the Claim of a Lost City Under the Pyramids

While ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and satellite imaging have led to significant discoveries in archaeology, experts argue that the technology used in this study lacks the depth capability to detect structures thousands of feet underground.

Professor Lawrence Conyers, a leading expert in radar-based archaeology at the University of Denver, called the claims “a huge exaggeration.” He explained that while small underground chambers, natural caverns, or burial shafts beneath the pyramids are plausible, a vast subterranean city contradicts both geological and historical evidence.

Furthermore, ancient Egyptian records, including extensive hieroglyphic inscriptions and tomb paintings, provide no indication of such a structure. The Giza Plateau has been one of the most thoroughly excavated sites in the world, and no prior study has suggested the existence of a vast underground metropolis.

How Did Ancient Egyptians Build the Pyramids?

The Pyramids of Giza—including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure—were built as elaborate tombs for pharaohs of Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty (c. 2613–2494 BCE).

The Great Pyramid, originally standing at 480 feet, was constructed using approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons. Ancient Egyptian engineers designed these pyramids with hidden passageways, burial chambers, and security features such as large granite blocking stones, but not large underground cities.

Unlike later civilizations such as the Mayans, who built pyramids over pre-existing ceremonial structures, Egyptian pyramid construction prioritized stability on solid bedrock. The idea of a vast subterranean city extending thousands of feet beneath the Giza Plateau contradicts this established architectural and engineering tradition.

Have Hidden Structures Been Found in the Pyramids Before?

Although the existence of a hidden city beneath the pyramids is doubtful, researchers have made credible discoveries of secret chambers within the pyramids themselves.

In 2017, scientists using muon radiography detected a large void inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu, suggesting an undiscovered chamber or passageway. This study, unlike the recent underground city claim, was peer-reviewed and widely accepted by the archaeological community.

Similarly, in 2022, a separate radar-based study confirmed the presence of hidden corridors inside Khafre’s pyramid, supporting the idea that there are still mysteries to uncover within the structures themselves. However, these findings do not support the notion of an entire lost city beneath the pyramids.

The Geological Limits of Subsurface Construction in Giza

Another reason why experts are rejecting the lost city claim is the geological composition of the Giza Plateau. The region consists primarily of limestone bedrock, which is not conducive to deep underground construction on a large scale.

While the Valley of the Kings and Saqqara contain elaborate underground tomb complexes, these were carved at much shallower depths. The idea that the ancient Egyptians built a city extending thousands of feet underground would contradict everything known about their engineering techniques and the natural stability of the rock formations beneath the pyramids.

What Lies Beneath the Giza Pyramids?

While it is possible that small tunnels, burial shafts, or hidden chambers still remain undiscovered, the claim of an underground city stretching thousands of feet beneath the pyramids lacks credible scientific backing.

The Pyramids of Giza continue to be one of the most intensely studied archaeological sites in the world, and ongoing research may reveal new chambers or artifacts within the structures themselves. However, any assertion of an underground metropolis will require excavation-based evidence and peer-reviewed validation, neither of which currently exist.

For now, the pyramids remain unparalleled feats of ancient engineering, their secrets gradually uncovered through methodical scientific exploration rather than unverified sensational claims.