- Researchers found evidence of an ancient branch of the Nile River near the pyramids
- This water channel allowed materials to be transported by boat year-round
- Previously, it was thought materials could only be moved during the annual Nile flood
- The discovery changes our understanding of the logistics behind pyramid construction
Have you ever wondered how the ancient Egyptians built the massive pyramids in the middle of the desert? Scientists may have finally uncovered the answer.
An Ancient River Branch Discovered
According to the BBC, researchers made an exciting discovery – they found evidence of an ancient branch of the Nile River that has long since dried up. This river channel was located near the pyramids of Giza.
“Materials Could Be Transported Year-Round”
Professor Aidan Dodson, an Egyptology expert from the University of Bristol, explained the significance of this find. “It means that materials could be brought in year-round, which changes our understanding of the logistics of pyramid building,” he stated.
Previously, historians thought that the heavy stone blocks used to construct the pyramids could only be transported during the annual Nile flood when the waters were high. However, the newly discovered river branch means supplies could be carried by boat throughout the year.
Pyramids Not As Mysterious As Thought
Despite the pyramids’ amazing engineering feat, Professor Dodson says there aren’t as many unanswered questions as people assume. “We know why they’re built, who built them, and when they were built,” he noted.
This new finding provides more insight into the practical details and logistics of pyramid construction thousands of years ago.
Understanding Ancient Egypt’s Landscape
According to Dodson, this discovery has the biggest impact on our overall understanding of ancient Egypt’s landscape. Instead of a single Nile river with the desert on one side, researchers now realize that a large portion of Egypt may have been an isolated “island” surrounded by river branches.
Future research will study this revised geographical picture of the ancient civilization. “It’s not so much looking at the pyramids; it’s looking at how the landscape of Egypt is fundamentally different from what we expected,” Dodson explained.
So, while the pyramids remain impressively built, science continues to shed new light on the practical realities of how they were constructed so long ago. What other ancient mysteries about Egypt have yet to be uncovered?ย
Photo Credit: Pexels
