Scientists in Paris have made a groundbreaking discovery, uncovering a previously unknown section of the Nile river that ran parallel to over 30 pyramids in Egypt. This remarkable find has the potential to unravel the enigma surrounding the transportation of colossal stone blocks used in the construction of these iconic monuments by the ancient Egyptians.
According to a recent study, a river branch that stretched for 64 kilometers and passed by the famous Giza pyramid complex, along with other remarkable sites, remained hidden beneath the desert and farmland for thousands of years. This discovery sheds light on why the 31 pyramids were constructed in a continuous line across a now inhospitable desert strip in the Nile Valley, between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago.
This strip, located near the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, encompasses the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the sole surviving structure of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It also includes the Khafre, Cheops, and Mykerinos pyramids. Archaeologists had long speculated that the ancient Egyptians must have utilized a nearby waterway to transport the massive materials required for pyramid construction.
However, the exact location, shape, size, and proximity of this significant waterway to the actual pyramid site had remained uncertain. Lead study author Eman Ghoneim from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the United States stated that this new research finally provides valuable insights into these aspects.
The river branch, named Ahramat in Arabic, was successfully mapped by the international team of researchers using radar satellite imagery. This advanced technology allowed them to effectively penetrate the sand surface and capture images of concealed features such as buried rivers and ancient structures, as stated by Ghoneim. The study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment further validated the existence of the river through on-site surveys and sediment cores.
