Egyptologist Zahi Hawass Dismisses Underground City Claim Beneath Giza Pyramids as “Fake News”
A recent claim by Italian researchers suggesting the discovery of a vast underground city beneath the Pyramids of Giza has been strongly rejected by renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass. The former Minister of Antiquities described the findings of the Kahfre Project as “fake news” and “fabrications” with no basis in credible archaeological science.
The Controversial Claim: A Subterranean Metropolis Under Giza?
According to a scientific paper shared by the Kahfre Project, researchers allegedly uncovered what they describe as “vertical cylinders” located 2,000 feet below ground, using Synthetic Aperture Radar tomography. Scientists Corrado Malanga from the University of Pisa and Filippo Biondi from the University of Strathclyde claim the radar data points to an underground network beneath all three of Giza’s major pyramids.
The team also suggested that beneath the Pyramid of Khafre, there may be spiral staircases and five room-like structures—allegedly part of the mythical “Halls of Amenti,” long speculated in fringe theories to lie hidden beneath the plateau.
Hawass Responds: “There Is No Scientific Evidence”
In a statement released on his official Facebook page, Dr. Zahi Hawass unequivocally denied the claims.
“False claims regarding the Egyptian pyramids have circulated widely across the world,” he wrote.
“These are nothing but fabrications propagated by individuals with no expertise in ancient Egyptian civilization or the history of the pyramids.”
Hawass emphasized that extensive archaeological research has shown no sign of such structures beneath the Khafre pyramid:
“The base of the Pyramid of Khafre was carved directly from the bedrock to a height of approximately 8 meters… there are no columns beneath this base.”
He went further to argue that these unfounded claims are “attempts to undermine the grandeur of ancient Egyptian civilization,” adding that “such baseless rumors will ultimately be consigned to the dustbin of history.”
Peer Review and Scientific Scrutiny Lacking
A major criticism of the Kahfre Project’s report is that it has not been peer-reviewed, raising questions about its scientific validity. In academic circles, peer review is a crucial standard for credibility, especially when extraordinary claims are made about ancient history or lost civilizations.
While Nicole Ciccolo, spokesperson for the Kahfre Project, defended the team’s methodology, calling it a “groundbreaking study” that has “redefined the boundaries of satellite data analysis and archaeological exploration,” skeptics have pointed out that groundbreaking claims require equally rigorous scientific evidence—which has not been provided.
Conspiracies and the Pyramids: A Persistent Myth
Claims of secret tunnels, hidden chambers, or entire lost cities beneath the Giza plateau have long circulated on social media, in books, and in documentaries. These theories—though lacking scientific foundation—often generate public fascination due to the mystique of ancient Egypt.
However, Egyptologists like Hawass have repeatedly debunked such ideas, pointing to decades of careful excavation, satellite imagery, and geological surveys that support a consistent archaeological understanding of the pyramids’ construction and surrounding structures.
What Comes Next?
As of now, the Kahfre Project has not issued a formal response to Hawass’ dismissal. Whether they will submit their findings for academic scrutiny or remain in the realm of fringe archaeology remains to be seen.
For now, Egypt’s top experts continue to maintain that the pyramids of Giza stand not on an underground metropolis, but on centuries of evidence-based research, grounded in science, not speculation.