A promotional interview for a new documentary took a dramatic turn when veteran Egyptologist Dr Zahi Hawass was confronted with controversial claims about hidden structures beneath the Giza plateau, leading to a tense and abrupt end to the conversation.
The Interview That Sparked Controversy
Dr Zahi Hawass, the world-renowned and often combative Egyptologist, sat down with The Daily Mail to discuss his new documentary, 'The Man with the Hat'. The film highlights his storied career and hints at his own discoveries, including a previously unknown pyramid and four tunnels within the Great Sphinx, which he believes date to 500 BC. However, the mood shifted instantly when the topic moved to a sensational claim made by a team of Italian researchers.
In March 2025, researchers Filippo Biondi and Armando Mei released satellite data suggesting the existence of massive vertical shafts plunging more than 2,000 feet beneath the Khafre pyramid on the Giza plateau. The Giza complex, home to the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure alongside the Sphinx, was constructed approximately 4,500 years ago.
"Completely Wrong": Hawass's Furious Rebuttal
Hawass's reaction to the Italian claims was one of visible irritation and outright dismissal. He insisted that any discovery must first be discussed with Egyptologists and shared with the Egyptian government, calling this "a law for everyone." He was scathing in his technical critique, stating that the tomographic radar technology cited by the researchers could only penetrate about 15 metres (49 feet), not the hundreds of feet they claimed.
"Even if you bring aliens to work under the Sphinx," Hawass mocked, "they will not be able to do that." He revealed he had consulted experts on radar and ultrasound who dismissed the data as "bulls***." When pressed by The Daily Mail on the specifics of the satellite scans, which appeared to show giant shafts, he cut the line of questioning short, declaring, "I think you asked all the questions."
A Repeat Performance and The Science Behind the Scans
This was not the first time Hawass had clashed over this issue. In May 2025, during an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast—where he was once dubbed the 'worst guest ever'—a similar confrontation occurred. Rogan asked about the same Italian satellite images, leading Hawass to admit he did not understand the underlying technology but to firmly stand by his condemnation.
In defence of their work, Filippo Biondi explained to The Daily Mail that their method was misunderstood. They did not use radar to 'see' directly underground. Instead, they employed Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from satellites orbiting 372 miles up, analysing Doppler centroid abnormalities in the returned signals. Through a process called tomographic inversion, they claimed this allowed them to create detailed scans of deep subsurface structures, potentially revealing a network extending over 4,000 feet below the surface.
Biondi countered that most critics, including Hawass, were mistaken about their technique. Despite this detailed explanation, Hawass maintained his position, arguing that "good scientists" would have contacted Egyptian authorities first and reiterating that the scans were physically impossible. The standoff highlights the deep rift between established archaeological protocol and claims made using new, disruptive technologies.
