Recently, scientists have uncovered a long-forgotten tributary of the Nile River that once flowed past more than 30 pyramids. This 64 km long river, known as Ahramat, played a crucial role in the construction of these monumental structures. The research team, led by Eman Ghoneim at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, used radar satellite images to map out the course of the Ahramat and shed light on how the Egyptians transported stones to build tombs.
The discovery of this buried waterway has long been sought after by archaeologists who believed that the Egyptians used a nearby waterway to transport materials for building the pyramids. However, they lacked precise details about its location. The Ahramat flowed through the Giza pyramid complex and other structures that were hidden beneath desert and farmland for centuries.
The research team found that raised walkways leading to the Valley Temples served as harbors for transportation materials and labor needed to build the pyramids. This finding highlights how water transport was much easier than transporting materials over land, which was likely a major factor in the construction of such massive and durable structures.
Changes in water flow and discharge influenced decisions made by different Egyptian kings during various dynasties. Suzanne Onstine, a co-author of the study from the University of Memphis, pointed out how this interconnection between geography, climate, environment, and human behavior is evident in ancient Egypt.
This discovery sheds new light on how civilizations in ancient Egypt built such monumental structures with limited resources. It also emphasizes how important it is to understand geography, climate, environment, and human behavior when studying ancient civilizations like Egypt.
