Any theories on how the pyramids were actually built?

Question

As you know we do not have the techology and capabilities to build them now.

What are the possible explanations?

some of those stones weigh more than 200 tonnes!

The world best engineers have admitted it is not possible to move stones of that size and weight and place them with that degree of accuracy (to the millimetre).

Answer 1

One stone at a time and very slowly

Answer 2

Large ramps were erected around the pyramid has it grew higher. And contrary to what as been said the workforce were NOT slaves, in fact it was an honour for any man to work on the project, and some workers spent most of their life there

How the Pyramids were Built
The pyramids of Egypt were built as a burial place for the pharaoh god-kings. Egyptians believed the pharaohs held the key to the after life for everyone and the pyramids show this strong belief in life after death. The first pyramid to be built was started around 2600 BC. and was for the pharaoh Zoser. This pyramid does not compare with others built later on. It was constructed of steps of small, square stones and surrounded by the beautiful white limestone temples. These temples were used by priests to worship the dead pharaohs.

Building a pyramid took many years and was a public works project. Thousands of Egyptians people worked with architects when they were able to leave their farms because of the season. The most impressive pyramid, that of Cheops (or Khufu), took 100,000 people working over a twenty year period. Built along the Nile, the Great Pyramids are located in Giza.

There are many theories about how the pyramids were built. Some are very unbelievable and others are very possible. One of the most odd and outrageous theories it that aliens built the pyramids. This is a completely dumb idea, since we have proof that the Ancient Egyptians built the pyramids. So, therefore, credit should be given were it is deserved. Then, there are many theories about how the Egyptians built the pyramids.

One theory is that the egyptians built one large ramp. This was quickly ruled out because the ramp would have to be a mile long in order for the slant of it to be feasable. The ramp would have used more material than the pyramid itself.

A second theory claims that there was a singular ramp spiraling around the pyramid. This will clearly not work because in order for the ramp to extend from the bottom to the top, the way the ramp would be, you wouldn't be able to cover all of the area and you would have a rather lacy pyramid. The angles would we so sharp that you wouldn't have been able to move two ton blocks around corners.

One well known theory as to how the pyramids were built is that of Mark Lehner's. Lehner works at the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute. Lehner has spent much of the last 13 years excavating at the site of the Great Pyramid and let loose a team of diggers on a field covered with garbage.

Lehner's theory, liked by many people, is the theory of Tafla. Tafla is a clay that is very strong when it is dried but is easily destroyed by a pick ax. When Tafla is wet it is very slippery and could have been used to move the 2 ton blocks. With a ramp of Tafla, a big crew could move the 2 ton blocks up the side of a pyramid. A pole was in a corner of the pyramid could swing the blocks around. This was proven by a NOVA experiment on a smaller scale.

The three of us think this is the most logical theory with one exception: it still doesn't cover enough of the pyramid's area. We believe that there were four ramps spiralling upward, each starting from one of the four corners. All other theories we've seen have been disproven in some way. No one really knows for a fact how the pyramids were built — they can only make practical assumptions. Lehner's theory has an explanation for everything and has been proven by NOVAk. There is no way to determine that it is true, but of the theories we've seen, it is by far the best.

You can make your own decisions as to who you think built the pyramids or how you think they did it. Just try to think things through completely and look for any possible setbacks.

Answer 3

As you can see you have plenty of 'possible' explanations here, but despite these possibilities, it has never been proved one way or the other how they were built,. The 'ramp ' possibility was good at the time but no one could ever work out what was done with all the thousands of tons of earth etc that would have been required to build the ramps, where did they put it all??!
I am not at all sure we have the technology to build a pyramid today! Regardless of all these possibilities and TV documentaries! One thing is for sure,British contractors had nothing to do with the job, otherwise building would still be 'ongoing'!!

Answer 4

If I remember correctly...

The stones were put on big long logs that used to roll the stones along. The stones were wrapped with rope and every time a log became 'free' (as in no stone on it) it was moved in front of the stone.

I assume that this was proven with hieroglyphics that were found somewhere.

However I do not know how they got the stones upto higher levels.

It would be possible to build a pyramid now, maybe using powerful choppers to carry the stones in place or a crane or something similar.

It would be great if the British Museum would actually arrange a build like this somewhere in London or something, maybe using actual sand or something. I'd sure like to get involved.

Great question.

:-)

Answer 5

In a documentary they say that aliens came to earth 3000 years ago and they built the pyramids of Egypt and also some other pyramids in South America. Maybe for showing the modern humanity that they exist. The biggest pyramid in Egypt (king Khufu's pyramid), is right in the centre of the world. If you see the world map, you will notice that it's in the middle. It's also amazing how the pyramid has been used as a clock. The shadow of the pyramid in the sand, shows the exact time. There's too much wonder for the ancient people, isn't it?

Answer 6

We still have the capability to build them. But we don't have that kind of manpower nor the time to build something as big as a pyramid because it's too costly. Back then, Pyramids were built when the next pharoah was born and they were finishing a pyramid for the current one. By the time the pyramid was completed, the baby pharoah would be old as well.

Answer 7

we now havve the technology to build them in months rather than years or decades .Give humanity some bit of credit.We had the technology when they were built too Proof ? they are there . No Aliens came down with lazers or special educational programs to help the baldy apes (thats us) build them, we did it ourselves .Von danken and his like are spin doctors. ok. We dont have all the answers about exactly how but that just adds to the mystery of how such a marvellous, complex and ingenious feat of engineering was accomplished.People have said that the age of some of the Pyramids is called into question .Ok I will buy into the fact that man could have evolved earlier to build these amazing pieces of architecture.but WE did It .

Answer 8

We do have the technology and capabilities to build them now. Modern studies have proved that it is in fact possible to move the stones using people, wooden sleds and very gradual dirt slopes. The only reason it was a mystery for so long was that to do so would take a hell of a lot of people a very long time, but archaeological studies have now found that this is in fact what happened.

Answer 9

One theory I heard a while ago went as follows- the 'stones' were actually formed of a kind of cement. They could have poured it in one block at a time- even though the blocks they were making were huge, practically all they would have needed to do would have been to winch the buckets up there, or even to pass them in a human chain. That wouldn't have been beyond their grasp, and it would have been relatively easy to do... easier than having huge chains of slaves anyway...

Still, the slave theory is pretty 'satisfying'. It's a result of the media, I'm sure, but when one thinks of Egypt, it seems the mind naturally falls to teams of men shunting huge blocks of stone. It could have been cement though, that's another option.

Answer 10

Egyptians were great mathematicians, and they had the willingness and physically strong men to do the job. Have you seen the BBC recent documentary that shows evidence on how they fed the pyramid workers? They were not slaves, they were well fed. As for the maths, there are lots of explanations on how it assisted the building of the pyramids.

Answer 11

It is a fallacy that the pyramids were built by slaves - they were highly skilled artisans which is why the planning and execution were paramount. There were many less skilled people to carry out the heavy work, in numbers which we would not be able to match today - it was an honour for them to be able to do this work and serve their pharaoh who was regarded as a god. The pyramids were planned even before the pharaoh came to power. This is why Tutankhamun was not buried in a pyramid - they did not expect him to die so soon, and so he was buried in a tomb which was probably for use by a high ranking minister.