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The construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt remains one of humanity's most perplexing engineering feats. For centuries, experts across fields like history, architecture, and science have attempted to unlock the secrets behind these monumental structures.
Despite numerous theories, the true method behind their construction remains elusive. Many hypotheses have emerged, and here we will explore the 10 most credible explanations for how the Great Pyramids may have been built.
10. Ancient Machines or Cranes
When we think of constructing large buildings, cranes for lifting heavy materials like metal or stone immediately come to mind. The earliest pyramids, which were step pyramids, featured expansive flat surfaces that could have supported cranes in their construction.
It’s clear that ancient civilizations understood levers and pulley systems, and they likely employed such tools in the creation of the first pyramids. However, cranes seem less plausible as an explanation for the construction of the Great Pyramids, as their small surfaces would not have been suitable for such large machinery.
To account for the precise construction of the geometric pyramids at Giza, more advanced techniques must be considered.
9. The Pyramids Were Initially Natural Hills
An intriguing, though somewhat outlandish theory suggests that the pyramids may have started as natural hills, with rocks placed over them from the top down, rather than building from the bottom up. This theory was first introduced in a 1884 article in The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette by a group of scientists.
This idea might be what Herodotus referred to when he described the pyramids as being built 'top down.' While it’s an imaginative notion, it remains highly unlikely and unrealistic.
8. Smoothing and Flattening by Hand
One of the greatest challenges in constructing the pyramids was the extraordinary precision with which the Egyptians cut and stacked the stones, leaving no visible gaps between them. Not even a piece of paper can fit between two stones that are perfectly aligned.
How were the Egyptians able to achieve such remarkable precision and smoothness? Even with our advanced diamond-tipped tools, we still struggle to replicate it. It may come as a surprise, but they may have accomplished this feat using simple hand tools and a great deal of creativity. It wasn’t that their tools were superior, they simply mastered the use of what they had.
To achieve this level of smoothness, they used two poles of equal height connected by a taut rope, under which the rocks were positioned. This method allowed them to check if the rocks could barely slide in and out from under the rope.
When they discovered any points where the rope made contact with the rock, they marked it with red ocher, then carefully scraped off the high spots using a flint scraper or a sunstone rubber. Remarkably, it’s even possible to chip away at granite, one of the hardest substances on Earth.
7. Limestone Concrete
An alternative and possibly more plausible explanation for the perfectly smooth surfaces of the stones is that the rocks were created by pouring liquid limestone concrete, which was then molded to easily form perfect geometric shapes. There seems to be some supporting evidence for this theory.
When examined under a microscope, Egyptologist Jean-Philippe Lauer discovered what appear to be air bubbles on the surface of the stones, suggesting that air may have been trapped beneath the liquid concrete. According to the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, the rapid formation of the stone elements also points to cement-like properties.
6. Zigzagging Ramp
This is the first of several ramp theories on the list. The flat ramp theory is excluded here because such a ramp would have to be larger than the pyramid itself. A flat ramp would need to extend about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) from the pyramid, assuming a 7-degree slope. Recognizing this issue, researchers developed alternative ramp theories.
For a ramp to be practical, it would need to be built gradually throughout the pyramid's construction. While a zigzagging ramp would require less material than a straight one, it remains nearly as implausible, as it would have to be constantly adjusted as the pyramid grew taller.
A single zigzagging ramp alone would present another mystery. How could such a ramp be made to ascend the pyramid? Theories involving this kind of ramp have largely been dismissed.
5. Wetting Sand
Some theorists still suggest that the pyramid stones were transported over piles of sand that were moistened, making it easier to drag the stones without causing friction. This theory could explain how the stones were moved from quarries located hundreds of miles away and how workers may have used some form of ramp to lift the stones.
But could a wet ramp really offer enough stability to lift stones weighing up to 20 tons each? And what about the workers pulling these massive stones up a slippery ramp? Wouldn’t it be difficult for them to maintain traction on such a surface?
At most, this theory might explain how the rocks were transported. However, it falls short when it comes to explaining how the stones could have been lifted.
4. The Spiral Ramp Theory
This theory offers a more plausible explanation. As researchers worked on ramp ideas, it became apparent that a spiral ramp could have been built concurrently with the pyramid’s construction.
This ramp would spiral around the pyramid's exterior, continuously rising as the pyramid was constructed. One of the supporters of the outer spiral ramp theory is Mark Lehner, a Yale-educated archaeologist.
The primary challenge with the spiral ramp is managing the stones around the corners. While hauling massive stones up a ramp is already difficult, turning them adds an additional layer of complexity. This is where the outer spiral ramp theory encounters problems, and other more feasible methods must be considered.
3. Jean-Pierre Houdin’s Internal Ramp Theory
In recent years, one individual has emerged as a standout in the quest to uncover how the pyramids were constructed. Jean-Pierre Houdin, a French architect, has dedicated himself to studying the Great Pyramid since the 1990s, formulating what may be the most ingenious theory on pyramid construction.
Houdin suggests that the Great Pyramid was built using two distinct spiral ramps. The first was an external spiral ramp, rising about 30 percent of the way up, while the second was an internal spiral ramp that allowed the massive stones to be hauled to the top.
Houdin estimated that the internal ramp had a slope of 7 degrees. Additionally, the ramp featured open sections at the corners to allow workers to maneuver the stones. This is where it's believed cranes were employed.
Beyond the internal ramp, Houdin also provided an explanation for the construction of the King’s Chamber and the enigmatic Grand Gallery within the Great Pyramid. The enormous granite blocks above the King’s Chamber were lifted via the Grand Gallery using an extended pulley system.
In this way, the Grand Gallery serves a practical function. Inside, there are markings that support this hypothesis, including holes wedged into the stones, likely used to anchor the pulley system.
Houdin’s theory carries substantial credibility. Through the use of digital technology, a team of computer experts was able to evaluate the idea, confirming that Houdin’s blueprints for the pyramid align mathematically and that the internal ramp is a plausible solution.
Most impressively, a low-density scan of the pyramid uncovered a spiral-shaped image, which could be evidence of the very ramp Houdin proposed. This discovery adds significant weight to the theory, making it the most credible explanation for how the pyramids were constructed.
2. Extraterrestrial Intervention
The longer we ponder how the pyramids were constructed by humans, the more it seems the answer may lie beyond our world. While most mainstream scholars dismiss this idea, a notable number of Egyptologists and historians propose that extraterrestrials could have been involved in building the pyramids.
Though many will dismiss this theory out of hand, the concept of extraterrestrial involvement actually makes sense. Considering everything we know about the pyramids, it seems reasonable to conclude that the ancient civilizations alone may not have been capable of building such awe-inspiring structures.
Even with all our advanced technology today, we still cannot replicate the pyramids of Egypt. As a result, it's almost unthinkable that an ancient, less advanced civilization could have had the necessary technology and ingenuity to build such perfectly crafted pyramids.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is aligned with nearly perfect accuracy to true north, deviating by just 3/60th of a degree. This level of precision surpasses that of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, which has a deviation of 9/60th of a degree from true north.
Another astounding mathematical characteristic of the Great Pyramid is that when its perimeter is divided by its height, the result equals 2π, with only a tiny discrepancy. A host of other exact mathematical relationships surround the pyramid, but perhaps the most intriguing factor is the speed at which it was built.
With 2.3 million stones, each averaging 2.5 tons, it's believed that one stone was placed every two minutes. This includes the time required to meticulously cut the stones, transport them across miles of desert, haul them up the pyramid's ramp, and position them with exact precision. It's difficult to believe that early humans could have accomplished this feat.
1. Water Shaft Theory
What if a long underground water channel was constructed from a nearby water source to the quarry, using water shafts to float the stones upward? This theory proposes that a waterway was used to transport the stones, with the stones themselves being cut and shaped while floating in the water.
Once the stone was precisely shaped, light flotation materials were attached to it. This allowed the stone to rise and protected its surface from being damaged by contact with other stones.
There is evidence indicating that similar water shafts were utilized in construction projects across the globe. For instance, canals are believed to have been employed in the construction of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Yet, if such a canal was used in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza, questions arise. Where did it go? Why was it dismantled?
It is claimed that it took 10 years to construct and would have had to span 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), the distance from the Nile River to the Giza site. Even if this theory holds, it still fails to explain other aspects of the pyramid, such as the massive quarry blocks used to build the King’s Chamber.
