Scientists uncover second 'hidden city' beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids
Scientists who claimed earlier this year to have found a massive subterranean city under the Pyramids of Giza now say they have unearthed a second city.
The team of Italian researchers, who claimed they found huge underground structures below the Khafre pyramid in March, now say they've found more evidence of a second 'hidden city'.
These new subterranean structures, apparently found underneath the Mankaure pyramid, could 'prove' the existence of a massive subterranean complex which links the three Giza pyramids thousands of feet below the surface.
The announcement sparked controversy amongst archaeologists and Egyptologists, who said the unverified claims are 'a total scam' and argued the technology used isn't able to penetrate deeply enough into the ground.
The Pyramids of Giza, along with the Great Sphinx, are located west of Egypt's capital Cairo, and the methods used to build the huge structures are still shrouded in mystery thousands of years on.
Filippo Biondi, co-author of the research, told MailOnline their data shows a 90% probability that the Menkaure shares the same pillars as Khafre.
'Objective analysis of the tomography data, which, as experimental measurements, strongly indicate that the structures we identified beneath Khafre are also present under Menkaure,' Filippo said.
'We firmly believe that the Giza structures are interconnected, reinforcing our view that the pyramids are merely the tip of the iceberg of a colossal underground infrastructural complex.
'This network likely consists of a dense system of tunnels linking the main subterranean structures.
'The measurements reveal pillar-like structures with consistent characteristics.
'Given that Menkaure is smaller than Khafre, we believe the number of pillars is likely even but fewer than those under Khafre.'
It's estimated there are eight pillars under Khafre pyramid, which are estimated to be more than 2,000ft long and feature spiral-like structures.
The researchers say finding similar pillars underneath Mankaure pyramid support their theory that a 'megastructure' hides thousands of feet underneath the sands.
When asked about the purpose of the hidden structures, Filippo said: 'At this stage, we're still gathering information to thoroughly study the matter, but we can confidently say that the operation of this structure likely involves the natural elements: air, water, fire and earth. More Trending
'Discoveries like these under Menkaure challenge us to rethink our understanding of ancient Egyptian history and humanity's past, opening new perspectives on our origins and capabilities.'
Archaeologists estimate the three Pyramids of Giza are about 4,500 years old, but Filippo and his team theorise these pillar structures could have been built by a lost ancient civilisation about 38,000 years ago.
They suggest a highly advanced prehistoric society was wiped out by a global cataclysm, possibly caused by a comet impact, around 12,800 years ago.
But some have drawn comparison to conspiracy theories that it was in fact aliens who built the pyramids.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
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'Hidden city' from Book of the Dead found beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids
Team of Italian researchers claim to have unearthed evidence of a hidden structure dating back tens of thousands of years Scientists have made a 'groundbreaking' discovery of an underground city beneath Egypt's iconic Giza pyramids, potentially rewriting the history books. Italian researchers Corrado Malanga, Filippo Biondi, and Armando Mei claim they've found evidence of a hidden structure around 2,000 feet below the surface, suggesting a vast subterranean complex linking the pyramids through a network that could be tens of thousands of years old. They discovered 'vertical cylinders' with chambers, pipes, and a water system leading to cube-shaped structures, after recently detecting massive underground structures under the Khafre pyramid, stirring controversy in the archaeological community. However, renowned archaeologist Dr Zahi Hawass has dismissed the initial claims, citing limitations in ground-penetrating radar technology and a lack of peer-reviewed evidence, with many experts calling the findings speculative, reports the Mirror US. Dr Hawass said: "All this information is completely wrong and has absolutely no scientific basis." Despite scepticism, the research team insists their findings are legitimate, supporting theories of an advanced civilisation possibly wiped out by a cataclysmic event mentioned in various Egyptian texts, including the Book of the Dead. The lost city could potentially house 'the fabled Hall of Records', a long-speculated library that could reveal new insights into Ancient Egyptian society and mysteries such as Atlantis. Traditional beliefs hold that the Giza pyramids, thought to be 4,500 years old, were built solely by the ancient Egyptians. However, the discovery of an 'underground network' suggests they could date back 38,000 years, surviving a cataclysmic event that wiped out many past civilisations. If these claims are confirmed, it would revolutionise our understanding of human history and the origins of Egypt's most iconic structures. Yet, this discovery has sparked as much curiosity and enthusiasm as it has doubt within the archaeological community. This is another significant discovery in Egypt, following finds like the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II and a 3,400 year old New Kingdom settlement. More secrets from the ancient world are gradually emerging, reshaping the rich and complex history of one of humanity's greatest marvels.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Scientists uncover second 'hidden city' beneath Egypt's Giza pyramids
Scientists who claimed earlier this year to have found a massive subterranean city under the Pyramids of Giza now say they have unearthed a second city. The team of Italian researchers, who claimed they found huge underground structures below the Khafre pyramid in March, now say they've found more evidence of a second 'hidden city'. These new subterranean structures, apparently found underneath the Mankaure pyramid, could 'prove' the existence of a massive subterranean complex which links the three Giza pyramids thousands of feet below the surface. The announcement sparked controversy amongst archaeologists and Egyptologists, who said the unverified claims are 'a total scam' and argued the technology used isn't able to penetrate deeply enough into the ground. The Pyramids of Giza, along with the Great Sphinx, are located west of Egypt's capital Cairo, and the methods used to build the huge structures are still shrouded in mystery thousands of years on. Filippo Biondi, co-author of the research, told MailOnline their data shows a 90% probability that the Menkaure shares the same pillars as Khafre. 'Objective analysis of the tomography data, which, as experimental measurements, strongly indicate that the structures we identified beneath Khafre are also present under Menkaure,' Filippo said. 'We firmly believe that the Giza structures are interconnected, reinforcing our view that the pyramids are merely the tip of the iceberg of a colossal underground infrastructural complex. 'This network likely consists of a dense system of tunnels linking the main subterranean structures. 'The measurements reveal pillar-like structures with consistent characteristics. 'Given that Menkaure is smaller than Khafre, we believe the number of pillars is likely even but fewer than those under Khafre.' It's estimated there are eight pillars under Khafre pyramid, which are estimated to be more than 2,000ft long and feature spiral-like structures. The researchers say finding similar pillars underneath Mankaure pyramid support their theory that a 'megastructure' hides thousands of feet underneath the sands. When asked about the purpose of the hidden structures, Filippo said: 'At this stage, we're still gathering information to thoroughly study the matter, but we can confidently say that the operation of this structure likely involves the natural elements: air, water, fire and earth. More Trending 'Discoveries like these under Menkaure challenge us to rethink our understanding of ancient Egyptian history and humanity's past, opening new perspectives on our origins and capabilities.' Archaeologists estimate the three Pyramids of Giza are about 4,500 years old, but Filippo and his team theorise these pillar structures could have been built by a lost ancient civilisation about 38,000 years ago. They suggest a highly advanced prehistoric society was wiped out by a global cataclysm, possibly caused by a comet impact, around 12,800 years ago. But some have drawn comparison to conspiracy theories that it was in fact aliens who built the pyramids. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: You can finally binge all 4 episodes of 'fantastic' historical drama for free MORE: TUI relaunches UK flights to forgotten year-round sunshine destination after 3 years MORE: Man has entire street evacuated after pulling pin on WWII grenade from antique market
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2 days ago
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He told MailOnline: 'We might get unlucky and none of this works but, if it does, every development gives us longer to make the next one, and the first 150-year-old could be someone who's reading this.' Last week, Michigan State University researchers announced they are studying 77 reptiles and amphibians with the hope of understanding what allows them to be so resilient. But they have yet to pinpoint any potential longevity targets, meaning a true breakthrough could still be years off. Dr Alex Zhavoronkov, a biotechnology expert and physicist, said studying animals — particularly those as distantly related to humans as reptiles — has rarely resulted in breakthroughs. He believes scientists are better placed focusing their efforts on studying ageing in real people, and, in particular, technology. Implant chips that use electrodes in the brain to ward off illnesses like Parkinson's are currently being trialled on people. 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