There are about 31 pyramids in Egypt that might have been constructed along a 64-km-long branch of the river Nile. This cool info was shared in a paper in Communications Earth & Environment. The study explained why these pyramids are all clumped together in a small, harsh desert area.
The super tall pyramids at Giza – you know, those massive ones – were built, and people are like, “How did they even do that?” Well, a recent study says that the architects back then actually used a lost branch of the Nile River to move those huge construction blocks around. Even though the Nile River today is quite far away, this study found that there used to be a river branch that flowed near the building sites. Cool, right?
In Egypt, the famous Giza pyramid complex might have been built along this super-long 64-km branch of the Nile River. The river branch got buried under farmland and desert. It explains why all these pyramids are huddled up in this tiny, harsh desert zone. It’s like a puzzle coming together, showing us how these ancient architects worked their magic, moving those massive stones using the river’s help. Even though today the Nile River is all chill and far away, back in the day, there was this secret branch right where the pyramids now stand. It’s like uncovering a hidden chapter in the history of these incredible ancient structures.
Researchers found proof of an ancient Nile river branch near the Egyptian pyramids in Giza and Lisht. These pyramids, built over a thousand years, now sit on the edge of the Western Desert. Through satellite imagery and surveys, Eman Ghoneim and team confirmed the existence of river sediments and channels beneath the surface.
They suggest naming this former branch ‘Ahramat,’ meaning ‘pyramids’ in Arabic. The discovery indicates that the pyramids were concentrated in this area due to easy access provided by the Ahramat river branch during construction, with some pyramids having causeways leading to the proposed riverbanks, suggesting the use of the waterway for transporting building materials.
The researchers think a big drought about 4,200 years back might’ve caused more sand to blow around, leading to the river branch moving east and eventually filling up. This find shows how crucial the Nile was for ancient Egyptians, not just for travel but as a cultural lifeline. It also shows how environmental changes have affected human societies throughout history. The authors reckon that finding more old Nile branches in the future could help figure out where to dig for ancient stuff and safeguard Egypt’s awesome cultural spots.
