IT
HR
NL
FR
JA
RO
RU
ES
TR
Strange discovery: Giza pyramids may hide a mysterious underground anomaly
In the shadow of the Giza pyramids, the desert still guards secrets that lie not on the surface but deep beneath the sand. A recent study has recorded signs suggesting that previously unknown, unusual chambers may extend beneath a little-studied part of one of the world-famous monuments.
The Giza pyramids have been among the world’s most iconic and most visited structures for centuries, yet time and again it becomes clear that secrets still remain hidden within their thousands-of-years-old walls.
Modern archaeological investigations now also focus on untouched layers concealed deep beneath the desert sand, and the results of a recent survey suggest that hidden chambers may lie beneath the pyramids—findings that could fundamentally reshape our understanding of these monumental structures, reports Popular Mechanics.
Modern technology aided the discovery
One of the greatest advances in archaeology over recent decades has been the widespread use of non-invasive research methods. These include ground-penetrating radar (GPR), which uses radar pulses to map subsurface layers without significantly disturbing the examined area.
This technology has already led to numerous major discoveries, contributing to the identification of Viking ships, lost settlements and Roman cities. Now, the same method has drawn researchers’ attention to the question of an anomaly beneath the Giza pyramids.
Traces of an unusually shaped chamber discovered
The research was conducted by a Japanese–Egyptian team led by Motoyuki Sato, a professor at Tohoku University. The GPR measurements were complemented by electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), a method that creates images of hidden structures based on the electrostatic properties of underground materials.
During the investigation, researchers identified an exceptional feature: on the western side of the pyramids, they detected an L-shaped, chamber-like formation approximately ten metres long, lying about two metres beneath the surface.
According to the researchers, the shape is too regular to be of natural origin. Measurements also suggest that the chambers were backfilled with soil after construction, which further indicates human intervention.
An even more unusual phenomenon observed
Even more striking results were found at greater depths, between approximately five and ten metres below the surface, where researchers identified an anomaly exhibiting extremely high electrical resistance. Such phenomena have several possible explanations, but experts highlighted two main possibilities: a mixture of sand and gravel, or a structure containing air-filled voids.
The latter scenario is particularly noteworthy, as it may indicate the presence of artificial, enclosed spaces. This further strengthens the hypothesis that the anomaly beneath the Giza pyramids is not merely a geological feature, but could signal a previously unknown archaeological object.
What does this mean for the Giza pyramids?
The western cemetery of the Giza pyramids was one of the most important burial grounds of ancient Egypt, where members of the royal family and high-ranking officials were laid to rest. The area is primarily characterised by flat-roofed tombs known as mastabas, built around 4,500 years ago, at the same time as the pyramids. However, the sandy strip where the anomaly beneath the Giza pyramids appeared has received little attention so far, as no visible surface traces had been identified there.
The research team does not rule out the possibility that what they have detected could be the entrance to a deeper structure. Although current measurements do not yet allow for a more precise analysis of the anomaly, it is conceivable that a large, previously undiscovered archaeological structure—possibly even a tomb—lies hidden beneath the desert sand.
For now, the anomaly beneath the Giza pyramids does not constitute definitive proof, but rather marks the beginning of a new direction in research. Nevertheless, the discovery clearly demonstrates that investigations into even the most famous archaeological sites can never truly be considered complete.