New research is sparking widespread debate about how the Great Pyramid of Giza was built, with a new scientific model suggesting that the ancient Egyptians may have used a hidden ramp system inside the pyramid itself.
This is instead of the massive external slopes assumed by traditional theories.
For decades, researchers have tried to explain how the ancient Egyptians managed to move and lift millions of massive stone blocks, some weighing up to 15 tons, without modern machinery or sophisticated lifting techniques. However, there are no clear texts or archaeological records that explain the construction methods in detail, making it one of the greatest mysteries in archaeology.
A new model suggests that the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza may have been done using something like a "hidden spiral ramp" inside the stone block of the pyramid, rather than a long external ramp that is visible.
Computer scientist Vicente Luis Russell Roig explains this idea through a concept called a "bare ramp," which is a sloping passageway that was gradually built on the outer edges of the pyramid, then buried or covered as construction continued and the layers rose, so that it gradually disappeared inside the final structure.
In simple terms, the idea was based on the workers not needing to build a huge external road that extended for a long distance, but rather they used a path that went up with them inside the pyramid itself, and closed behind them as the work progressed.
It is estimated that the Great Pyramid was built from approximately 2.3 million stone blocks, reflecting an enormous amount of effort and organization.
A computer simulation within the study indicates that if the stone blocks were moved at a rate of one block every four to six minutes, construction could have progressed at a steady and relatively rapid pace, allowing the pyramid to be completed in approximately 14 to 21 years.
But when you add the time needed to extract the stones from the quarries, transport them across the Nile River, and the periods of rest and organization, the total construction period rises to between 20 and 27 years, a range consistent with previous scientific estimates about the reign of Pharaoh Khufu.
The study adds a possible explanation for the mysterious internal voids discovered inside the pyramid in recent years, suggesting that some of these voids may be remnants or traces of an internal ramp system that disappeared with the completion of construction.
The study, published in the journal NPJ Heritage Science, explains that the techniques of the ancient Egyptians were limited to relatively simple materials and tools, such as copper chisels (hand tools used for carving, cutting, or shaping solid materials), stone or water-sharpened hammers, ropes, and hoists, in addition to utilizing earthworks and Nile boats for transportation.
Based on this data, the researchers developed a computer model that simulates how the stones are lifted and the pyramid is stabilized as it is built layer by layer, taking into account factors such as the angle of inclination, friction, and the method of organizing the work.
This model is based on the idea of a ramp that is gradually incorporated into the structure itself, so that some parts of the outer layers are left temporarily open to form the ascent path, and are later filled with stones as construction progresses, making the ramp invisible after the pyramid is completed.
The results indicate that this method does not conflict with the stability of the structure, as an engineering analysis showed that the pressure resulting from the weight of the blocks was within the limits that limestone can withstand under conditions of gradual construction.
The simulation also showed that the model is consistent with some newly observed voids within the pyramid, which may be related to the internal structure of the proposed construction path.
However, the study emphasizes that this hypothesis still needs direct archaeological evidence, suggesting indicators that can be field-tested, such as traces of friction or erosion at certain angles, or unusual patterns in building layers that indicate the presence of temporary tracks.
The researchers conclude that this model offers a coherent vision combining logistics, engineering, and physics, and may help to re-understand how the Great Pyramid was built, not as an entirely mysterious achievement, but as the result of complex and highly organized engineering planning.
