Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Culture > News

The Discovery Under Giza’s Pyramids Has The Internet In Shambles

Updated Published

If the Egyptian pyramids have ever been the subject of your hyperfixations, strap in. Over the past few days, there have been some big discussions about the pyramids of Giza that are leaving the self-proclaimed archaeologists of social media shook. 

We all know that the pyramids were built by ancient Egyptians to be monuments of the afterlife and tombs for their pharaohs. But there might be more below the surface (literally) — like mysterious structures and unlikely skeletons —  than many originally thought. 

Findings from a 2022 study by a team of archaeologists in Italy were reportedly published in a press release on March 15, revealing evidence of structures beneath the Khafre Pyramid in Giza. The lead archaeologists Corrado Malanga and Filippo Biondi used noninvasive Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology to unveil significant underground findings: five multi-level structures, eight large cylindrical structures 648 meters below the Giza Plateau, and two large cubic structures below the cylinders. Malango’s reporting conveyed confidence that these structures are not natural formations, but man-made ones. So, what could that mean… and is it appropriate to freak out about it?

https://www.tiktok.com/@tilscience/video/7483923375165869355

While many are skeptical of the study (and rightfully so, as there’s not a ton of reputable information about the study online), that’s not stopping people from talking all about it. If the structures do in fact exist, it’s not exactly clear what they could have been made for. Some on TikTok are speculating they’re evidence of a pre-flood society, and others think that the precision with which the structures and pyramids were constructed indicates that they were intended to serve a greater purpose than just honoring deceased pharaohs. (Does anyone else think this sounds like the third movie in the National Treasure series? Just me?)

FWIW, the structures aren’t the only abnormal objects that may have been found in relation to pyramids this month. In Sudan, (which used to be under Egyptian control) archaeologists uncovered skeletons from the Tombos pyramids. Sara Schrader, an archaeology professor at the University Of Leiden, Netherlands, began studying the remains down to how the muscles and ligaments were attached to the bones in order to gauge the level of physical activity the person had. What she found didn’t necessarily match the ultra-rich, servant-ordering royalty that we typically associate with pyramids. Instead, many of the skeletons’ bones seemed more like those of hard laborers. This led Scharder and her team to conclude that “pyramid tombs, once thought to be the final resting place of the most elite, may have also included low-status high-labor staff,” as written in the study. OK, inclusive!

There’s still a lot that’s yet to be explained from these studies, and hopefully the archaeologists behind them will be gracious enough to educate the masses who are already running to conspiracy theory YouTube.

But for now, at least the mindblown memes are fire.

Julia Hecht is the spring 2025 Her Campus News and Politics intern. This semester, she will be covering the new presidential administration and trending stories relevant to Her Campus readers. Originally from the Jersey shore, Julia is a senior at the University of Miami with a major in journalism and minors in public relations and gender and sexuality studies. She is also a member of her university's campus television station, UMTV, and lifestyle magazine, Distraction. Prior to joining Her Campus, Julia worked as a news intern at NBC 10 Boston, where she helped cover local stories, the 2024 election and the Paris Olympics. She is passionate about amplifying voices in underrepresented communities and examining social and cultural trends relevant to young people. In her free time, Julia loves to thrift, take photos on her film camera, and play pickleball under the Florida sun. After graduating in May, she hopes to return to her Northeast roots for career opportunities and also, bagels.