"We've found evidence of advanced technology": Archaeologists explain how the pyramids were built

One of the great mysteries in human history is the Egyptian pyramids. Despite all kinds of explanations being sought as to how such perfect buildings were designed and built in 2630 BC, and how they remain in very good condition to this day, no convincing answer has yet been found.

However, Xavier Landreau and his team from the CEA Paleotechnical Institute could change this forever, since as they have published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, they have discovered not only how they were built , but also the real reason why they are like this.

And besides being perfect triangles, the pyramids have an intricate network, including a dam, underground basins, and a labyrinth of galleries , suggesting a level of technical organization far superior to what was previously imagined. This is because researchers are suggesting that this building was not a ritual or burial site, as previously thought, but a dam designed to capture seasonal floodwaters from nearby rivers.

This was important, because with enough stored water, researchers believe the Egyptians had developed a technique of hydraulic power (i.e., mechanisms that harness water) to help raise the stone blocks during pyramid construction , rather than relying solely on ramps, cranes, or human labor.

By analyzing the terrain's slopes, ancient waterways, and visible erosion marks, the researchers reconstructed a basin capable of channeling water into the enclosure, which would have served as a temporary reservoir. This suggests that the pyramid's internal design is compatible with a hydraulic lifting mechanism similar to a hydraulic elevator, something that had never been considered before.

Until now, most theories about pyramid construction have been based on ramps and manual labor. This study opens a new line of research by considering hydraulics as a possible technology used by the Egyptians, highly advanced for its time, which even later societies failed to replicate.

If this theory is true, this revelation challenges the narrative of pyramid construction , suggesting a blend of engineering and ingenious adaptation to environmental challenges. This invites us to re-evaluate other monumental sites, looking for similar traces of buried or forgotten hydraulic systems.