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 argues that the Osiris Shaft may not be fully 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, is compatible with the hypothesis of a connected underground structural network beneath the Giza Plateau. The analysis identifies L2 as a transitional operational level characterized by limited percolation but no clear evidence of 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, may indicate the presence of 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. Major methodological revision including expanded SAR data provenance, reproducibility framework clarification, and extended discussion of geological uncertainty and interpretation limits. This version includes major methodological revisions, expanded SAR data integration, improved stratigraphic interpretation of L2–L3 levels, and full compliance with journal formatting requirements (in-text citations and references).