Archaeologists uncover how the Great Pyramid of Giza was actually built
Archaeologists have discovered proof, which shows how the Egyptians transported two tonne blocks of limestone and granite blocks to build the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The discoveries are revealed in UK Channel 4’s documentary Egypt’s Great Pyramid: The New Evidence.
The documentary references diary entries written by Merer, an ancient Egyptian overseer in charge of a team of 40 elite workmen that they used wooden boats along the River Nile held together by ropes to transport more than 150,000 tonnes of limestone to build the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu in about 2600BC.
The diary, written on a scroll of ancient papyrus was found in the seaport Wadi Al-Jarf along with a ceremonial boat and a system of waterworks.
Merer described how the crew transformed the landscape using giant dykes to channel water from the Nile through to the pyramid using man-made canals.
Archaeologists have long agreed the blocks from the pyramid’s internal chambers were transported from Aswan, more than 850km away, and the stones were brought from Tura, more than 12km from the structure, but could never agree on how it was done.
Archaeologist Mark Lehner said the team had uncovered evidence of a lost waterway beneath the Giza plateau, which they think, was the “primary delivery area”.
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A team of specialists also restored the wooden planks from the ceremonial boat before scanning them with a 3D laser to work out how they were assembled.
The vessel’s construction has given new insight into how boats were built during that period.
