Is There a Hidden Underground City in Arizona?

Is There a Hidden Prehistoric Underground City Amidst the Beauty of Arizona Landscapes?
(photo by Getty Images)

Arizona is a land of beauty and contrast, from the stunning red rock formations of Sedona to the towering saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert. The state boasts some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world, including the breathtaking Grand Canyon, Havasu Falls, and Antelope Canyon. 

The colors of the desert landscapes in Arizona are like no other, with the sunsets and sunrises painting the skies with hues of orange, pink, and purple.

Might Arizona contain one of the biggest archeological mysteries of the United States, capable of rewriting our understanding of history?

Lost City Revealed in Arizona Gazette

In April 1909, the Arizona Gazette published a sensational story claiming that an expedition had discovered a vast underground city in the Grand Canyon, complete with artifacts and mummies that suggested an Egyptian origin. 

The article claimed that the city was estimated to be over 3,000 years old and had been preserved in a state of remarkable condition, with well-preserved mummies, pottery, hieroglyphs, and other artifacts.

According to the article, the expedition had been funded by the Smithsonian Institution, and had been launched under the direction of a G.E. Kincaid, an adventurer who had made a name for himself exploring the American Southwest.

The story described Kincaid as a man of remarkable intelligence and resourcefulness, and suggested that he had made one of the most remarkable discoveries of all time.

The Story about The Mysterious City was first Published in Arizona Gazette

The story sparked a flurry of interest in the Grand Canyon and its supposed ancient Egyptian connections. Many people began to speculate about the possibility of a lost civilization in the Americas, and some even suggested that the discovery could rewrite the history of the mankind.

Arizona's enigmatic prehistoric city

The article described the city as a labyrinth of underground chambers, passageways, and halls, all of which were constructed with remarkable precision and skill. The walls were said to be lined with gold, and the floors were paved with a strange, white substance that resembled marble.

In addition to the remarkable architecture, the city was said to contain numerous artifacts and other objects of interest. The article claimed that the expedition had discovered a large number of mummies, many of which were said to be in a remarkable state of preservation.

The mummies were said to be wrapped in a strange, woven material that had not been seen before, and were adorned with intricate jewelry and other ornaments.

The city was also said to contain a large number of pottery fragments, many of which were decorated with hieroglyphs and other symbols that suggested an Egyptian origin. The article suggested that the pottery was similar in style to that found in ancient Egypt, and that it provided further evidence of an Egyptian presence in the Americas.

Is there a connection between ancient Egypt and Arizona?
(photo by Getty images)

In addition to the pottery and mummies, the expedition was said to have discovered a large number of other artifacts, including statues, tools, and other objects of unknown origin. The article suggested that these objects were of great interest to the expedition, and that they would be studied in detail in the coming months and years.

The article also claimed that the discovery had been kept secret by the Smithsonian Institution, and that the expedition members had been sworn to secrecy. The author of the article suggested that the discovery was being kept hidden because it had the potential to rewrite the history of the world, and to challenge many long-held beliefs about the origins of

civilization.

Kincaid Report, as published in 1909

First, I would like to emphasize that the cavern is nearly inaccessible. The entrance is 1,486 feet down the sheer canyon wall. It is located on government land and no visitor will be allowed there under penalty of trespass. 

The story of how I found the cavern has been related before, but in a short: I was journeying down the Colorado river in a boat, alone, looking for mineral. Some forty-two miles up the river from the El Tovar Crystal canyon, I saw on the east wall, stains in the sedimentary formation about 2,000 feet above the river bed. 

There was no trail to this point, but I finally reached it with great difficulty. Above a shelf which hid it from view from the river, was the mouth of the cave. When I saw the chisel marks on the wall inside the entrance, I became interested, securing my gun and went in. 

During that trip I went back several hundred feet along the main passage till I came to the crypt in which I discovered the mummies. One of these I stood up and photographed by flashlight. I gathered a number of relics, which I carried down the Colorado to Yuma, from whence I shipped them to Washington with details of the discovery. Following this, the more detailed explorations were undertaken.

The main passageway is about 12 feet wide, narrowing to nine feet toward the farther end. About 57 feet from the entrance, the first side-passages branch off to the right and left, along which, on both sides, are a number of rooms about the size of ordinary living rooms of today, though some are 30 by 40 feet square. 

Arizona Is Full of Natural Wonders

These are entered by oval-shaped doors and are ventilated by round air spaces through the walls into the passages. The walls are about three feet six inches in thickness. The passages are chiseled or hewn as straight as could be laid out by an engineer. The ceilings of many of the rooms converge to a center. The side-passages near the entrance run at a sharp angle from the main hall, but toward the rear they gradually reach a right angle in direction.

Over a hundred feet from the entrance is the cross-hall, several hundred feet long, in which are found the idol, or image, of the people's god, sitting cross-legged, with a lotus flower or lily in each hand. The cast of the face is oriental. The idol almost resembles Buddha, though the scientists are not certain as to what religious worship it represents. 

Taking into consideration everything found thus far, it is possible that this worship most resembles the ancient people of Tibet. Surrounding this idol are smaller images, some very beautiful in form; others crooked-necked and distorted shapes, symbolical, probably, of good and evil. There are two large cactus with protruding arms, one on each side of the dais on which the god squats. All this is carved out of hard rock resembling marble. 

In the opposite corner of this cross-hall were found tools of all descriptions, made of copper. These people undoubtedly knew the lost art of hardening this metal, which has been sought by chemicals for centuries without result. On a bench running around the workroom was some charcoal and other material probably used in the process. There is also slag and stuff similar to matte, showing that these ancients smelted ores, but so far no trace of where or how this was done has been discovered, nor the origin of the ore.

Among the other finds are vases or urns and cups of copper and gold, made very artistic in design. The pottery work includes enameled ware and glazed vessels. Another passageway leads to granaries such as are found in the oriental temples. They contain seeds of various kinds. 

One very large storehouse has not yet been entered, as it is twelve feet high and can be reached only from above. Two copper hooks extend on the edge, which indicates that some sort of ladder was attached. These granaries are rounded, as the materials of which they are constructed, I think, is a very hard cement.

Are There any Links between ancient Egypt and Arizona 

(photo by Unplash plus)

A gray metal is also found in this cavern, which puzzles the scientists, for its identity has not been established. It resembles platinum. Strewn promiscuously over the floor everywhere are what people call 'cats eyes,' a yellow stone of no great value. Each one is engraved with the head of the Malay type.

On all the urns, or walls over doorways , and tablets of stone which were found by the image are the mysterious hieroglyphics, the key to which the Smithsonian Institute hopes yet to discover. The engraving on the tables probably has something to do with the religion of the people. Similar hieroglyphics have been found in southern Arizona. Among the pictorial writings, only two animals are found. One is of prehistoric type.

The tomb or crypt in which the mummies were found is one of the largest of the chambers, the walls slanting back at an angle of about 35 degrees. On these are tiers of mummies, each one occupying a separate hewn shelf. At the head of each is a small bench, on which is found copper cups and pieces of broken swords. Some of the mummies are covered with clay, and all are wrapped in a bark fabric. 

The urns or cups on the lower tiers are crude, while as the higher shelves are reached, the urns are finer in design, showing a later stage of civilization. It is worthy of note that all the mummies examined so far have proved to be male, no children or females being buried here. This leads to the belief that this exterior section was the warriors' barracks.

Among the discoveries no bones of animals have been found, no skins, no clothing, no bedding. Many of the rooms are bare but for water vessels. One room, about 40 by 700 feet, was probably the main dining hall, for cooking utensils are found here. What these people lived on is a problem, though it is presumed that they came south in the winter and farmed in the valleys, going back north in the summer. Upwards of 50,000 people could have lived in the caverns comfortably.

One thing I have not spoken of, may be of interest. There is one chamber of the passageway to which is not ventilated, and when we approached it a deadly, snaky smell struck us. Our light would not penetrate the gloom, and until stronger ones are available we will not know what the chamber contains. Some say snakes, but others reject this idea and think it may contain a deadly gas or chemicals used by the ancients. No sounds are heard, but it smells snaky just the same.

photo by Unplash plus

The whole underground installation gives one of shaky nerves the creeps. The gloom is like a weight on one's shoulders, and our flashlights and candles only make the darkness blacker. Imagination can revel in conjectures and ungodly daydreams back through the ages that have elapsed till the mind reels dizzily in space.

Hopi Indians Legend About the Lost City Confirms its Existence

In connection with this story, it is notable that among the Hopi Indians the tradition is told that their ancestors once lived in an underworld in the Grand Canyon till conflict arose between the good and the bad, the people of one heart and the people of two hearts. Machetto, who was their chief, counseled them to leave the underworld, but there was no way out. The chief then caused a tree to grow up and pierce the roof of the underworld, and then the people of one heart climbed out. They assembled by Paisisvai (Red River), which is the Colorado, and grew grain and corn.

They sent out a message to the Temple of the Sun, asking the blessing of peace, good will and rain for people of one heart. That messenger never returned, but today at the Hopi villages at sundown can be seen the old men of the tribe out on the housetops gazing toward the sun, looking for the messenger. When he returns, they believe their lands and ancient dwelling place will be restored to them.

It is interesting to mention that, according to Kincaid's report, the image of a heart is often seen among the engravings in the cave. Could it be connected with the Hopi story?

The author of the article concludes with the hope that further discoveries in the Grand Canyon may shed light on human evolution and prehistoric ages.

The Search Continues Even Today

Despite the sensational claims made in the article, there are several reasons for doubts. For one, there is no evidence that Professor Kincaid ever existed. No photos or materials from the site, that were according article sent to Smithonian institute were publicized.

Furthermore, there is no clear material evidence to support the claim that there was an ancient Egyptian presence in the Americas. While it is possible that some Egyptians may have traveled to the Americas in ancient times, there is no concrete evidence to suggest that they established permanent settlements or left behind significant artifacts.

In the years following the publication of the article, many people came up with different theories about the underground city in the Arizona desert. While some concluded that it is likely a hoax, another group of enthusiasts still believes that the underground city in Arizona exists and only waits to be rediscovered.

Please Share your Opinion

Hey everyone! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic I discussed in this article. Do you agree or disagree with the view that there exist lost underground city in Arizona? Are there any other perspectives or ideas you'd like to share? Please leave your comments below and let's start a conversation!