Archaeologists have discovered two unusual structures hidden beneath the ground near the renowned Pyramids of Giza.
Using radar and other technologies, a team of Egyptian and Japanese scientists identified an L-shaped structure about 10 metres long, located approximately 2 metres below the surface. This finding led them to detect an even larger and deeper formation situated 5 to 10 metres underground.
While the purpose of these structures remains unclear, researchers believe the L-shaped formation may be a pathway or entrance leading to something deeper, possibly a tomb.
The structure was found in a large, empty stretch of Giza’s 4,500-year-old western cemetery. This sandy patch had long been overlooked during excavations due to the absence of visible surface remains. In contrast, the surrounding area contains numerous aboveground mastabas –– rectangular, flat-roofed tombs made of stone or mudbrick.
Reports indicate that researchers used ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) to detect these subsurface structures.
How do GPR and ERT work?
GPR works by sending radar waves into the ground. When these waves encounter a buried object, they bounce back to the surface. By measuring the waves’ return time, scientists can create a 3D map of what lies underground.
ERT functions similarly. It introduces electrical currents into the earth and measures how easily they pass through different subsurface materials. Variations in resistance help identify underground anomalies or voids.
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These techniques enabled archaeologists to detect changes in the composition of the ground and pinpoint the location and shape of potential manmade structures.
What experts are saying
Dr Roland Enmarch, an Egyptologist at the University of Liverpool who was not involved in the study, told the BBC: “We are still unable to identify what these buildings are or were… It’s a little hard to say much more about [the L-shaped structure] until they actually go and dig in the area, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it turned out to be a tomb of some sort. Even so, it does not correspond with the mastaba-tombs that are currently visible on the surface.”
On the deeper structure, Enmarch added: “At this time, there simply isn’t enough information to know whether it is a natural feature or man-made.”
Experts also note that the formation could be an air void or a mix of sand and gravel. Only further excavation will reveal what truly lies beneath the sands of Giza.
