A team of geologists and engineers has proposed that the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Egypt may have been constructed using a hydraulic lift device, potentially allowing heavy stones to be floated up through the pyramid’s core using stored water.
This theory offers a fresh perspective on the long-standing debate among Egyptologists regarding the methods used to build the massive pyramids over 4,000 years ago.
The Step Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Djoser in the 27th century BC, was the tallest structure of its time, reaching approximately 62 meters (204 feet). The construction of this monumental edifice, with stones weighing as much as 300 kilograms (about 661 pounds), has puzzled scholars for decades. Various theories have been proposed, but a study published in the journal PLOS One on August 5, 2024, presents a new hypothesis.
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Dr. Xavier Landreau, lead author and CEO of Paleotechnic—a Paris-based research institute dedicated to studying ancient technologies—explained that while numerous publications have explored pyramid-building techniques, they typically focus on the smaller, more recent pyramids of the Middle and New Kingdoms (1980 to 1075 BC). In contrast, the Old Kingdom pyramids (2675 to 2130 BC), which are much larger, have remained more enigmatic.
“While human strength and ramps may have been sufficient for small structures, larger pyramids likely required additional techniques,” Dr. Landreau noted. He suggested that the construction of these colossal monuments might have involved a combination of ramps, cranes, winches, toggle lifts, hoists, and other methods.
The interdisciplinary study introduced a novel theory consistent with the internal architecture of the Step Pyramid. The researchers proposed that a sophisticated water management system, utilizing local resources, could have powered a hydraulic elevator within the pyramid’s central shaft. This mechanism would have enabled the heavy stones to be raised through the pyramid’s core.
However, some Egyptologists remain skeptical. Dr. David Jeffreys, a retired senior lecturer in Egyptian archaeology at University College London, acknowledged the theory as an “ingenious solution” but argued that the more widely accepted view is that ramps and haulage devices were used to move the heavy blocks into place.
Dr. Judith Bunbury, a geoarchaeologist at the University of Cambridge, also weighed in on the debate. While she was not involved in the new study, she suggested that there might have been sufficient water to support a hydraulic lift system during the Old Kingdom. She cited past research indicating that rainwater gutters and wetland species were present during that period, suggesting a wetter climate.
“There is fairly widespread belief that it was rainier in the early Old Kingdom when the Step Pyramid was being built,” Dr. Bunbury remarked.
Despite this, experts continue to question whether there was enough consistent rainfall to sustain the structures that would have supported the hydraulic lift, such as the “Dry Moat”—a massive channel surrounding the Step Pyramid and nearby structures, which the authors believe collected water to power the elevator when needed.
The debate over how the ancient Egyptians constructed their iconic pyramids continues, with this new theory adding yet another layer of intrigue to one of history’s greatest architectural mysteries.
