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| The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's oldest pyramid, could have been built using hydraulic lift technology, according to a new study. |
F or years, Egyptologists have debated how the massive pyramids of ancient Egypt were constructed more than 4,000 years ago. Recently, a team of engineers and geologists proposed a new theory involving a hydraulic lift device that could have floated heavy stones up through the middle of Egypt’s oldest pyramid using stored water.
The Step Pyramid, built for Pharaoh Djoser in the 27th century BC, was the tallest structure of its time at approximately 62 meters (204 feet) tall. The construction of this monument, with stones weighing around 300 kilograms (661 pounds), has remained a mystery. A study published in PLOS One suggests that the pyramid might have been built using a hydraulic lift system, consistent with the pyramid’s internal architecture.
Dr. Xavier Landreau, CEO of Paleotechnic, highlighted that previous studies focused on smaller, better-documented pyramids of the Middle and New Kingdoms. For the larger pyramids of the Old Kingdom, other techniques might have been used. The new theory involves a complex water treatment system that could have powered a water elevator within the pyramid’s internal vertical shaft, lifting heavy stones.
However, some Egyptologists remain skeptical. Dr. David Jeffreys, a retired senior lecturer in Egyptian archaeology, pointed out that the more widely accepted theory is that ramps and haulage devices were used to position the heavy blocks. He and others question whether there was enough consistent rainfall to support such a hydraulic lift system.
Paleoclimatology and archaeological data suggest that ancient streams could have flowed into a system of trenches and tunnels surrounding the Step Pyramid, with a structure known as Gisr el-Mudir acting as a check dam. Dr. Guillaume Piton, a study coauthor, emphasized that this system could have managed water during flood events and ensured water quality and quantity for various purposes.
Experts like Dr. Judith Bunbury of the University of Cambridge acknowledge the possibility of enough water to support the hydraulic lift but debate whether there would have been sufficient constant rainfall. Dr. Fabian Welc added that the low rainfall of the time would likely not have filled the structures needed for a hydraulic lift.
The study authors suggest that flash floods could have provided enough water to support the hydraulic lift during the pyramid’s construction. Further research is needed to determine the exact climate conditions of the time.
The theory builds on previous investigations into the role of the Nile in pyramid construction and evidence of ancient Egyptians using hydraulics on a smaller scale. The internal shaft within the Step Pyramid, initially believed to be a burial chamber, might have been designed to operate the hydraulic lift.
While further investigation is required to confirm this theory, it offers a new perspective on how the largest monoliths, such as those in the pyramids of Khufu or Khephren, might have been raised. Despite the mysteries surrounding the pyramids, there is documented evidence that the ancient Egyptians used scaffolding and mud-brick ramps in their construction methods.
The hydraulic lift device theory is intriguing, but as Dr. Bunbury notes, it remains one of many proposals. The simplest explanation, based on existing knowledge, may still hold true.
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