Ancient Egypt, Giza, and French Frustrations

Here is why, in my opinion, certain segments of the French press appear to speculate - at times with remarkable arrogance - about the Khafre Research Project SAR Technology: one cannot help but wonder whether a broader agenda lies beneath the surface. Could it be that the potential to redefine the boundaries of humanity’s remote past poses a challenge to entrenched academic and institutional interests?

Consider the following: the President and co-founder of the HIP Institute also serves as Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Dassault Systèmes, and is the co-director of the ScanPyramids mission. The Institute is behind the immersive virtual reality experience “Horizon of Khufu” — a project that has, reportedly, drawn the personal attention of French President Emmanuel Macron. According to various media sources, President Macron has publicly promoted initiatives aimed at attracting international researchers to conduct their work in France and across Europe.

Is it merely coincidence that this institutional support and financial endorsement appears to align so consistently with projects already under the umbrella of French organizations?

Meanwhile, independent research initiatives that fall outside of these privileged networks are often met with skepticism, media indifference, or outright discreditation. Why is this so? Is it simply a matter of scientific standards - or are we witnessing a more subtle form of cultural gatekeeping around Giza?

More pressing still is this question: why continue funding the ScanPyramids project — now entering its second decade — when, to date, it has yielded no definitive archaeological breakthroughs? At what point does a scientific mission become indistinguishable from a money-consuming machine sustained neither by scientific and archaeological narrative nor by results?

Within this context, does it become increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility that certain cultural or ideological circles — perhaps supported by powerful and enduring networks — may be actively shaping, if not restricting, the discourse surrounding Giza’s archaeological future? If so, are we not also witnessing an implicit attempt to obstruct the efforts of independent researchers around the world who seek to explore this sacred site with fresh eyes and open minds?