Pyramid Construction

The sides of the pyramid ascend at an angle of slightly less than 52 degrees, culminating in a summit of 480 feet. The method by which the ancient Egyptians managed to maneuver two and a half ton blocks to such an incredible height without the use of cranes or block and tackle remains a mystery to modern archaeologists. Egyptologist Mark Lehner has dedicated 30 years to studying the pyramids hands-on. His approach to the question involved locating the quarries and determining what kind of ramp could be used to transport the blocks to the pyramid in a functional slope. Almost all Egyptologists believe that some kind of ramp was used to raise the stone blocks, but the type of ramp used remains a mystery. The approach to the pyramid, whether straight on, zigzagging up one side, or spiraling around it, is also unknown. Although the ramps were dismantled once the pyramid was complete, fragments of evidence are available to archaeologists. It was through the use of ramps and sheer muscle power that millions of blocks were transported to the summit. Once in position, the builders faced the task of fitting the blocks together with astonishing precision. Surprisingly, a large proportion of the internal stones were only roughly finished, and the gaps between them were filled with rubble and gypsum mortar. However, every stone that would be visible when the build was completed was placed with amazing precision. In the Great Pyramid, the blocks of the burial chamber fit precisely, and the sides of these blocks had to be almost perfectly flat to achieve these astonishing joins. This precision engineering was achieved using the most rudimentary of tools, such as the rod spring tool, which was used to determine the true flatness of the surface.

The current state of the string is one of high tension. It is necessary to determine whether it will slip under such tension. A raised area has become apparent, which in ancient times would have been marked with red oak to guide workers and ensure that the length of the string was checked for imperfections. The ancient mason would use rods and string to identify imperfections and mark them with red ochre, indicating where further work was required. Two additional tools, a flint scraper and a sandstone rubber, were used to remove high points. The mount serves as a guide for scraping away the high point, and as the mark disappears, so too does the high spot. This technique was also employed in the final stage of construction, where rough internal blocks were covered with an outer casing of perfectly smooth stone.

analysis has shown that the workers who built the pyramids were skilled craftsmen and laborers who were well-fed and cared for by the pharaohs. The construction of the pyramids was a monumental feat of engineering and architecture, requiring the use of the highest-grade limestone. Each casing stone was meticulously cut to fit perfectly with its neighbors, resulting in a dazzling white appearance in the Egyptian sun. The Great Pyramid of Giza was covered with thousands of these facing stones, each one transported across the Nile to the pyramid site. While many of these stones have been lost to

history, some can still be seen on the cap of Khafre's pyramid. Despite the advanced tools and techniques used by the ancient Egyptians, the construction of the pyramids was an arduous task that required millions of man hours to complete. Contrary to popular legend, forensic analysis has shown that the workers who built the pyramids were not slaves, but skilled craftsmen and laborers who were well-cared for by the

pharaohs.