Reconsidering the Osiris Shaft: Evidence for a Connected Subterranean Network beneath the Giza Plateau

This preprint presents a new archaeological interpretation of the Osiris Shaft at Giza based on in situ photographic documentation, stratigraphic surface analysis, and correlation with satellite radar tomography. Building upon the foundational excavations of Zahi Hawass, the study demonstrates that the Osiris Shaft cannot be understood as an isolated subterranean monument. Instead, the morphological differentiation between its levels (L1–L3), combined with the spatial clustering of nearby deep shafts and subsurface radar anomalies, supports the existence of a connected underground network beneath the Giza Plateau. The analysis identifies L2 as a transitional operational level characterized by limited percolation but no hydraulic erosion, while L3 exhibits surface features consistent with prolonged exposure to water or high humidity. These contrasting environmental regimes, together with the architectural repetition observed in multiple shafts, point to a deliberately organized subsurface system integrated into the monumental landscape of Giza. The paper provides an evidence-based reassessment of the Osiris Shaft and contributes to ongoing debates on underground architecture, hydrology, and landscape engineering in ancient Egypt.