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Archaeology & History

Pyramid construction mystery has been solved

By T.K. Randall
September 24, 2017 · Comment icon 32 comments

Canal networks were used to transport the stones. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Jerzy Strzelecki
New evidence has shed light on exactly how huge stone blocks were transported to the site of the pyramids.
While archaeologists have long known that the stones used in the construction of the pyramids were transported over a distance of several miles, the exact way in which the ancient Egyptians achieved this without the benefits of modern technology has always remained something of a mystery.

Now though, the discovery of an ancient papyrus detailing exactly how this was done has finally offered up a complete picture of how the blocks were moved over such long distances.

The answer, it turns out, lies in a specially constructed network of canals that enabled the workers to transport the stone blocks on wooden boats all the way to the base of the pyramids.
Written by an overseer named Merer, the papyrus describes how several thousand workers had been involved in the transportation of a staggering 170,000 tons of limestone.

It also describes how the workers transformed the landscape by diverting water through giant dykes.

A documentary about the discovery, "Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence", is set to be aired in the UK on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm. A trailer for it can be viewed below.



Source: New Zealand Herald | Comments (32)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #23 Posted by jbondo 7 years ago
I've seen this canal thing before. However, along the lines of what fred_mc is saying: Imagine if, instead of wasting all that brainpower and manpower on pyramid building, they did something that would actually benefit their society? I mean, other than inbreeding, head binding.and putting sickly teenagers in charge of everything.
Comment icon #24 Posted by Parsec 7 years ago
They actually did it.  Plenty.  But worldviews change and what you see today as top priority for the betterment of society, wasn't necessarily seen as such at the time. And viceversa. 
Comment icon #25 Posted by Black Monk 7 years ago
The Channel 4 documentary on the matter seemed to perfectly answer that question.
Comment icon #26 Posted by Black Monk 7 years ago
In the Channel 4 documentary a team built some boats exactly tlike those used in the construction of the Great Pyramid and they were easily able to life such heavy blocks.  
Comment icon #27 Posted by DragonFire22 7 years ago
Did the  secret rooms ever got solved?
Comment icon #28 Posted by geraldnewfie 7 years ago
nice video, still hard to believe that man knew how to build this back then, also still raises questions on how they installed these blocks so high up
Comment icon #29 Posted by Adampadum123 7 years ago
All these years and then ahh the ships that carried stones were at the side of the pyramid lol seems legit? 
Comment icon #30 Posted by Noteverythingisaconspiracy 7 years ago
Why is it hard to believe that ?  Egypt at the time of the Pyramids was one of the most technologically advanced societies on Earth. The pyramid shape is the simplest way to built a stable structurea and by building a pyramid shape you need less and less stone the higher you go. One or more simple ramps should do the trick quite well.
Comment icon #31 Posted by Blaid Drwg 7 years ago
We look at pyramides and think Egypt. Than again pyramides are found all over the world. China, Egypt, Mexico, United States, Sudan, Portugal, Spain, Frannce, Bosnia, Cambodia, Guatamala, Turkey, Japan... The oldest pyramid found apparently dates from the 28th century BC and is found in Kazachstan. This still begs the question who build them because they are not singly found in Egypt and neighbourly nations does suspect these are not off Egypt design.  Although Im nowhere implying that they are build by aliëns.
Comment icon #32 Posted by Noteverythingisaconspiracy 7 years ago
The reason why pyramids are so common around the world is that it is the simplest way to built a stable structure, so naturally it would be common in many places. Once building methods became more sophisticated people stopped building pyramids, because they are a very material intensive way of building and they don't have much internal space. Hence why we don't see many pyramids being built today. Its really this simple.


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