Based on the search results and new information provided, here is an updated summary of the claims about hidden chambers beneath the Giza Plateau:
A vast network of underground chambers, tunnels, and caves is said to exist beneath the Pyramids of Giza, potentially forming a “lost underworld of the pharaohs.” This claim has been made by British explorer Andrew Collins, who says he discovered the entrance to this hidden complex.
The Alleged Underground System
Collins claims to have found:
– An extensive system of natural caves and man-made chambers in the limestone bedrock under the Giza pyramid field[6]
– Passages stretching for “several hundred yards” with at least four large chambers[6]
– A delicate ecosystem including bat colonies and a potentially new species of venomous spider[6]
He reportedly located the entrance in an unrecorded tomb west of the Great Pyramid, following clues from 19th century explorer accounts[6].
Historical Context
Collins cites memoirs of British consul Henry Salt, who allegedly explored underground “catacombs” at Giza in 1817 with Italian explorer Giovanni Caviglia[6]. Ancient Egyptian texts also supposedly allude to a subterranean world near the pyramids, with Giza known as “Rostau” or “mouth of the passages”[6].
Controversy and Skepticism
Egypt’s chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass has dismissed these claims, stating “There are no new discoveries to be made at Giza. We know everything about the plateau”[6]. However, Collins argues that there are no modern records of these cave systems[6].
Other Underground Discoveries
While Collins’ specific claims are disputed, other underground chambers have been documented at Giza:
– A network of underground chambers and water tunnels was reportedly discovered beneath several pyramids, including the Great Pyramid, in 1993[1]
– These may include ritual spaces related to ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs[1]
– The Great Pyramid itself has a complex internal tunnel system with multiple passages[2]
It’s important to note that while underground structures do exist at Giza, many claims about vast hidden complexes remain unverified or controversial within mainstream Egyptology. Further archaeological investigation would be needed to confirm or refute Collins’ specific assertions about an extensive “lost underworld.”
Read More
[1] https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/giza-plateau-0010702
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/cxgj96/what_happened_to_the_marble_casings_and_gold/
[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/Archaeology/comments/yt9zze/no_pharaohs_found_in_pyramids/
[4] https://ahotcupofjoe.net/2019/01/pyramids-of-giza-and-the-pseudoarchaeology-of-lost-civilizations/
[5] https://chrisnaunton.com/egypts-lost-pyramid/
[6] https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1374445/egypt-great-pyramid-cave-complex-lost-underworld-pharaoh-khufu-archaeology-spt
[7] http://heritage-key.com/blogs/malcolmj/lost-underworld-pharaohs-found-claims-british-explorer/