New research published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment offers evidence that an extinct branch of the Nile River once flowed through the landscape in a much wetter climate. This waterway allowed workers to transport stone and materials to build the Egyptian pyramids, including those in Giza, through raised causeways connecting the pyramids to river ports along the Nile’s bank. Data from satellites, sediment cores, and maps from 1911 were used to uncover and trace the imprint of the ancient waterway, which has since dried up and filled with silt.
The study focuses on 31 pyramids constructed over a span of 1,000 years, containing tombs for Egyptian royals. Some of the granite blocks used to build these pyramids were sourced from locations hundreds of miles south to the pyramid sites. Researchers like Peter Der Manuelian of Harvard University, who was not involved in the study, believe that wheels were not used to move these blocks and that waterways were likely utilized to transport materials. New research is helping to improve maps of ancient Egypt and provide proof of ancient waterways and their connection to the pyramids.
The findings suggest that the ancient Egyptian climate was wetter overall and the Nile carried a higher volume of water, separating into multiple branches, including the Ahramat Branch, which was about 40 miles long. The locations of the pyramid complexes included in the study align with estimates of the river branch’s location over centuries as water levels changed. Various pyramid temples and causeways appear to line up with the ancient riverbed, indicating direct connections to the river for transportation of building materials.
This research builds on previous studies that suggest a waterway once cut through the present-day desert based on pollen evidence of marsh species. The new findings add to the theory that the ancient Egyptians interacted with their environment differently due to the landscape changes over time. The Ahramat Branch shifted eastward and eventually dissolved due to drought, burying it under silt. Researchers aim to expand their map to detect additional buried branches of the Nile floodplain to help locate settlements or undiscovered sites.
Ancient Egyptians commonly used waterways for transportation more often than previously thought, according to new research. The study provides concrete evidence that the Egyptians harnessed their environment to achieve colossal projects like the construction of the pyramids. The mapping of ancient waterways using modern scientific tools like ground-penetrating radar and satellite imagery is helping to reveal new insights into how these structures were built and connected to the river. Future research aims to detect more buried branches of the Nile floodplain to uncover additional ancient sites before the areas get developed over.
