In 2025 and recent years, there have been sensational claims by some researchers of major buried structures or “cities” beneath the pyramids.
- A group of Italian (and some Scottish) researchers claimed to have detected eight vertical cylindrical shafts extending ~2,100 ft (≈ 648 m) downward, plus additional unknown structures even deeper (~4,000 ft), beneath the Pyramid of Khafre.
- They also claim that radar imaging shows spiral staircases, channels, and interconnected chambers, and even that a “lost city” lies beneath the pyramids.
What are the criticisms and challenges are
Because the claims are so dramatic, they meet strong scrutiny. Here are the main criticisms and challenges:
Technical and logistical challenges: Even if anomalies exist, physically accessing them (digging or drilling) under a sensitive, heavily studied monument is extremely difficult from both engineering and preservation standpoints.
Penetration depth limits: Radar / electromagnetic methods have limited ability to penetrate dense rock at large depths, especially with high resolution. Some critics argue that statements about structures at 600+ meters depth exceed what the methods can reliably resolve.
Lack of peer-review / independent verification: Many of the sensational claims haven’t passed through rigorous peer review or been independently confirmed. Without that, the scientific community remains cautious.
Filippo Biondi – United Kingdom / Italy
University: Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, UK).
Specialisation/role: Radar engineer / electronic & electrical engineer, and SAR (synthetic aperture radar) specialist, published work on SAR Doppler tomography applied to the Great Pyramid. He is the technical lead for the radar / signal-processing side of the work.
Corrado Malanga – Italy
University: Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa (Italy).
Specialisation/role: Listed in the project as a co-author and co-investigator; formally affiliated with chemistry/industrial chemistry in the University listing, and has acted as a lead voice for the project’s interpretations of SAR results.
Armando Mei – Italy
University: Independent researcher/historian; appears in bios as a self-trained Egyptology researcher and is affiliated with independent research profiles (various bios/academia pages list him as a historian / independent Egyptology researcher).
Specialisation/role: Historian / independent Egyptology researcher – involved as the Egyptology / field-research partner on the team (public presentations list him as a collaborator/authority on ancient-Egypt interpretations).
Nicole Ciccolo – Italy (reported as project spokesperson/coordinator)
University: Not publicly tied to a major university in the press reporting; described in media coverage as the project spokesperson/communications coordinator for the Khafre Project.
Specialisation/role: Communications/project coordination and public presentation of the findings (hosting press conferences and public briefings); public biographies.
Image from the presentation
Image created by AI