A bold archaeological claim out of Italy is once again stirring debate around Egypt’s ancient pyramids. Earlier this year, two researchers argued that colossal man-made structures lie 3,500 feet beneath the Giza Plateau—a depth far beyond what most geologists consider feasible to image. Now one of the scientists behind the claim says he has new evidence that strengthens his case.
Radar engineer Filippo Biondi, who developed the technology used in the underground scans, says data from four independent satellite operators show matching patterns, signals he interprets as proof of massive, vertical, cylinder-shaped structures hidden far below the pyramids.
But many experts remain unconvinced, raising serious questions about the technology’s capabilities and the extraordinary nature of the conclusions.
What Exactly Are the Scientists Claiming?
In March, Italian researcher Corrado Malanga of the University of Pisa and radar specialist Filippo Biondi of the University of Strathclyde said they had identified:
- Eight vertical cylindrical structures
- Arranged under the Giza Plateau
- Connected to one another
- Descending roughly 3,500 feet underground
The supposed discovery was made beneath the Pyramid of Khafre, the second-largest of the three major pyramids.
The team described one structure as a central column wrapped in perfect helical coils, a design they argue could only be produced by human engineering, not natural geological processes.
Their findings were based on synthetic aperture radar Doppler tomography, a technique Biondi says captures microscopic vibrations on the Earth’s surface that carry “acoustic fingerprints” of objects buried deep below.
What Is This Radar Technology and Can It Really Scan 3,500 Feet Down?
This is where the scientific debate intensifies.
What the researchers say
Biondi argues that his method, similar to sonar imaging but applied via satellite, can reconstruct 3D images of objects thousands of feet below ground.
In an interview on Jesse Michels’ American Alchemy podcast, Biondi said four commercial satellite companies—Umbra, Capella Space, ICEYE, and Italy’s Cosmo-SkyMed—recorded nearly identical raw tomography patterns over Giza.
“All four satellites gave the same results,” Biondi said. “That is really amazing. We cannot announce anything without these basic scientific methods.”
What other scientists say
Geophysicists and Egyptologists are deeply sceptical.
Experts note that:
- No existing satellite-based radar system can reliably image thousands of feet underground.
- Synthetic aperture radar is typically used for surface mapping, not deep subsurface exploration.
- Geological formations can easily create false positives, producing patterns that resemble artificial structures.
As one critic put it, “It is perfectly normal for small caves, chambers, or caverns to lie under the pyramids. The technology cannot look that deep under the ground.”
Are There Really Massive Structures Under the Pyramids?
So far, there is no independent confirmation of any large-scale man-made structures beneath Giza—let alone architectural columns wrapped in spiralling coils.
Archaeologists caution that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence. And while Egypt’s monuments are known to sit above natural cavities and smaller chambers, there is no precedent for engineered structures 3,500 feet below the plateau.
To put that depth in context:
- The Great Pyramid itself is only ~480 feet tall.
- Most archaeological excavations reach tens of feet, not thousands.
- Even modern skyscraper foundations rarely exceed 200 feet.
A structure at 3,500 feet would be deeper than many mining shafts and oil wells.
Why Do These Claims Keep Circulating?
The Giza Plateau has long been a magnet for speculative theories—lost cities, hidden chambers, secret technologies.
This new wave of claims taps into that fascination but also reflects a growing trend: commercial satellites generating data that non-experts may interpret in unconventional ways.
Experts warn that tomography datasets are highly complex and can easily be misread without ground-truth verification. Without access to the raw data or peer-reviewed analysis, scientists say Biondi’s interpretation remains unverified.
So What Happens Next?
For now, the claims remain unproven and widely challenged. Egypt’s Ministry of Antiquities has not commented on the new satellite data, and no excavation or official survey has been announced.
In scientific terms, the story sits here:
- Intriguing radar patterns? Yes.
- Replicable results? Possibly, according to Biondi.
- Independent verification? No.
- Extraordinary underground structures confirmed? Not at all.
Any groundbreaking discovery at Giza will require peer-reviewed research, on-site geological testing, and official archaeological oversight, far beyond what satellite imagery alone can offer.
