Scientists have made a 'groundbreaking' discovery of an underground city beneath Egypt's iconic Giza pyramids, potentially rewriting the history books.

Italian researchers Corrado Malanga, Filippo Biondi, and Armando Mei claim they've found evidence of a hidden structure around 2,000 feet below the surface, suggesting a vast subterranean complex linking the pyramids through a network that could be tens of thousands of years old.

They discovered 'vertical cylinders' with chambers, pipes, and a water system leading to cube-shaped structures, after recently detecting massive underground structures under the Khafre pyramid, stirring controversy in the archaeological community.

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However, renowned archaeologist Dr Zahi Hawass has dismissed the initial claims, citing limitations in ground-penetrating radar and a lack of peer-reviewed evidence, with many experts calling the findings speculative, reports .

Dr Hawass said: "All this information is completely wrong and has absolutely no scientific basis."

Despite scepticism, the research team insists their findings are legitimate, supporting theories of an advanced civilisation possibly wiped out by a cataclysmic event mentioned in various Egyptian texts, including the Book of the Dead.

The lost city could potentially house 'the fabled Hall of Records', a long-speculated library that could reveal new insights into Ancient Egyptian society and mysteries such as Atlantis.

Traditional beliefs hold that the Giza pyramids, thought to be 4,500 years old, were built solely by the ancient Egyptians.

However, the discovery of an 'underground network' suggests they could date back 38,000 years, surviving a cataclysmic event that wiped out many past civilisations.

If these claims are confirmed, it would revolutionise our understanding of human history and the origins of Egypt's most iconic structures.

Yet, this discovery has sparked as much curiosity and enthusiasm as it has doubt within the archaeological community.

This is another significant discovery in Egypt, following finds like the tomb of Pharaoh Thutmose II and a 3,400 year old New Kingdom settlement.

More secrets from the ancient are gradually emerging, reshaping the rich and complex history of one of humanity's greatest marvels.