An unprecedented discovery has stirred the archaeological community: a claimed vast underground city beneath Egypt's Khafre Pyramid. This ancient urban structure, purported to be 38,000 years old, challenges our current understanding of human history.
According to the Daily Mail, A team of international researchers asserts to have uncovered a colossal ancient city under the Khafre Pyramid, possibly rewriting the timeline of early human civilizations.
The team, led by scientists Corrado Malanga from the University of Pisa, Filippo Biondi from the University of Strathclyde, and Egyptologist Armando Mei, used advanced radar technology similar to marine sonar to explore beneath the surface. Their findings allegedly show intricate underground features, including large wells and staircase-like structures, suggesting an advanced civilization from an era long before recorded history.
The Giza pyramids, among the most iconic and studied monuments globally, were constructed around 4,500 years ago. The purported underground city, however, if proven to be true, could be nearly ten times older, originating around 38,000 years back.
The technology employed by the researchers allowed them to image underground features that are not visible to the naked eye. The researchers claim to have mapped extensive pathways and massive rectangular enclosures, indicative of sophisticated planning and construction capabilities far earlier than previously thought possible.
This underground city's estimated age was based on interpretations of ancient Egyptian texts, such as chapter 149 of the Book of the Dead and the Turin King List. These texts, according to the researchers, hint at a civilization that existed well before traditional historical timelines suggest.
The discovery has not yet been verified through peer review, and these findings were initially shared in two press conferences in Italy, rather than in scientific journals. This has added to the skepticism surrounding the claims.
Several experts have challenged the findings. Dr. Zahi Hawass, Egypt's former minister of antiquities, labeled the study as "completely wrong" and questioned the scientific basis of the methods used. Professor Lawrence Conyers, a radar expert from the University of Denver, criticized the use of "fancy proprietary data analysis software" by the team and described their claims as a "huge exaggeration."
Both Conyers and Hawass dispute the feasibility of such an advanced civilization existing 38,000 years ago, well before the known advent of cities, which emerged about 9,000 years ago. Conyers remarked, "That is an outlandish idea," and questioned the validity of using radar technology in this context.
If these findings are verified, they could revolutionize our understanding of the spread of human civilization and architectural development. The research team insists that their findings are based on "objective measurements obtained through advanced radar signal processing," as stated by project spokesperson Niccole Ciccolo.
Ciccolo also commented that their findings "provide a whole series of references that a pre-existing civilization lived in the region. This suggests that the area of the Giza pyramids may have been a significant hub for human activity far earlier than currently accepted.
The debate over these findings highlights a broader discussion about the methodologies and interpretations used in archaeology. While the scientific community remains largely skeptical, the researchers are hopeful that further investigations will substantiate their claims.
As it stands, the scrutiny from the academic community suggests that further research and peer-reviewed studies will be necessary to confirm or refute the findings. The prospect of an ancient civilization, as hinted by the alleged underground structures, continues to invite both fascination and skepticism in equal measure.
For now, the archaeological world watches closely, awaiting new developments that could either dismantle or reinforce these extraordinary claims. The outcome could have profound implications for our understanding of ancient human history and the origins of civilization itself.
