The discovery could be a huge step forward in our understanding
For millennia, Egypt’s pyramids have captured the minds and imaginations of academics, adventurers and conspiracy theorists alike.
Often people like to suggest that these ancient monuments were the construction of extra-terrestrials, however ignore the fact that us humans are pretty clever things, even almost 5000 years ago.
Now a new study has shown that Egypt’s oldest pyramid was built with technology far more sophisticated than we could have imagined, and it involved water.
The idea comes from a paper recently published on the 5 August on the online journal Plos One and suggested what equipment may have been employed in constructing the famous Step Pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara.
The 4500 year old pyramid covers an area of 13,189m and reaches a height of 62.5m making it one of the most impressive structures of its day.
Previously, experts had thought that the pyramid was built with interconnecting ramps and levers to haul up the heavy building material, however the new study suggest they may have had help from a hydraulic lift system.
Xavier Landreau of France’s CEA Paleotechnic Institute, brought forward the idea that the Ancient Egyptians may have channelled nearby canals to power lifts for moving heavy objects.
Based on new analysis, the study suggests that water was channelled into the pyramid through the use of two shafts which were then used to help raise and lower a float with the heavy stone building blocks aboard.
The researchers wrote: “Ancient Egyptians are famous for their pioneering and mastery of hydraulics through canals for irrigation purposes and barges to transport huge stones.
“This work opens a new line of research: the use of hydraulic force to erect the massive structures built by Pharaohs.”
Like many of the pyramids, the Step Pyramid is thought to have been constructed in around 2680 BC as a funerary complex and tomb for the pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty.
Being erected so long ago, it is hard to ever be certain how these incredible structures were indeed built.
One nearby and previously unexplained structure, the Gisr el-Murdir enclosure could help further our understanding, with Landreau and his colleagues arguing that it was in fact a “check dam” used for capturing water and sediment.
Furthermore, the team postulate that the pyramid may have even had its own water treatment facility, with a series of compartments dug into the ground outside the pyramid, enabling the sediment to settle as water passed through each ensuing section.
The water would then become pressurised as it flowed into the pyramids shafts, enacting a process known as “volcano” construction as the water rose up a vertical shaft inside the pyramid, taking the float with the building blocks on top of it with it.
Despite the researchers’ unprecedented new discovery that “the internal architecture of the Step Pyramid is consistent with a hydraulic elevation device never reported before.” the team admit further investigation is needed.
They now aim to simulate how the hydraulic process would have happened as well as if the environment of the area at the time could support such water usage.
However, the paper maintains that other techniques, such as the classic ramp system, were likely used in the construction of the structure with the hydraulic lift being used in assistance when possible.
Landreau and his colleagues conclude: “This work opens a new research line for the scientific community: the use of hydraulic power to build the pyramids of Egypt.”
