For decades, the pyramids of ancient Egypt have fascinated scholars, explorers, and conspiracy theorists. Many have speculated that these ancient structures were built by aliens, bypassing the ingenuity of humans 5,000 years ago.
Now, a new study reveals that Egypt's oldest pyramid may have been built using much more advanced technology than previously thought, and it involved water.
New research published in the online journal PLOS ONE has explored the techniques used to build the famous step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. At 13,189 square metres and 62.5 metres high, the 4,500-year-old pyramid was one of the most remarkable structures of its time.
While experts previously believed the pyramids were built using interconnected rams and levers to move heavy materials, new research suggests the pyramid builders may have used a hydraulic lifting system.
Xavier Landreau of France's CEA Institute of Paleotechnology suggests that the ancient Egyptians may have exploited nearby canals to power lifts to move heavy stones.
Based on new analysis, the study suggests that water was channeled into the pyramid through two shafts, which raised and lowered the floats carrying large stone blocks.
“The ancient Egyptians were famous for their pioneering hydraulic engineering, using canals for irrigation and barges to transport large stones. This study opens up a new area of exploration: the use of hydraulic power to build the pharaohs’ monumental structures,” the researchers wrote.
The Step Pyramid, built around 2680 BC as a tomb complex for the Third Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser, remains a mystery and determining exactly how it was built is a challenge.
A nearby structure, the Gisr el-Mudir enclosure, which has long puzzled experts, may provide further insight. Landreau and his team suggest it acts as a “flood barrier” to collect water and sediment.
Researchers also suggest that the pyramid may have contained a water treatment facility, with a series of chambers that allowed sediment to settle as water flowed through, eventually building pressure on shafts inside the pyramid.
This process, known as "volcanic" construction, may have lifted the rocks using rising water.
Despite the groundbreaking discovery, the team admits that further analysis is needed. They plan to simulate how this hydraulic system might have worked and whether the environment of the area at the time could have supported such a method.
The study also notes that traditional techniques, such as ramp systems, were likely used in conjunction with hydraulic lifts.
"This study opens a new line of research for the scientific community: the use of hydraulic power in the construction of the Egyptian pyramids," Landreau and his colleagues conclude.
