Hydraulic Engineering Behind Egypt's Step Pyramid Revealed

A groundbreaking study proposes that the Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's oldest iconic pyramid, might have been constructed using a unique hydraulic lift system.

Researchers suggest that water could have flowed into two shafts within the pyramid, aiding in the elevation and lowering of floats carrying building stones.

This theory presents a revolutionary perspective on ancient engineering.

Step Pyramid's Hydraulic Secret

The Pyramid of Djoser, commonly referred to as the Step Pyramid, was constructed around 2680 BCE as a funerary complex for the Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser.

While the exact construction methods have long been debated, this new interdisciplinary study offers a compelling hypothesis.

The nearby Gisr el-Mudir enclosure, a previously enigmatic structure, might have functioned as a ‘check dam’ to capture water and sediment, integral to this hydraulic system.

Water Treatment and Elevation Mechanism

The researchers also identified a series of compartments dug into the ground outside the pyramid, which likely served as a water treatment facility.

These compartments would have allowed sediment to settle as water flowed through them, eventually channeling into the pyramid shafts.

The rising water within these shafts could have provided the necessary force to transport heavy building stones, suggesting a sophisticated understanding of hydraulic principles.

A New Perspective on Ancient Construction

Further investigation is required to determine the specifics of water flow through the shafts and the water availability during the construction period.

Nonetheless, the study's authors propose that alongside traditional methods like ramps, the hydraulic lift system could have significantly supported the building process when water levels were sufficient.

Implications for Future Research

The discovery of the dam, water treatment facility, and potential hydraulic lift system opens new avenues for research into the use of hydraulic power in ancient construction.

This novel approach not only sheds light on the construction of the Step Pyramid of Saqqara but also encourages a reevaluation of how water management might have played a crucial role in building the pyramids of Egypt.