Archeologists may have solved puzzle behind the building Egypt’s great pyramids

Scientists have discovered a long-buried branch of the Nile River that once flowed alongside over 30 pyramids in Egypt, potentially explaining how ancient Egyptians transported massive stone blocks to build these monuments. According to a scientific study cited by AFP, the 64-kilometer-long river branch was buried under desert and farmland, and was identified using radar satellite imagery, which can penetrate the sand to reveal hidden features. Named Ahramat, meaning "pyramids" in Arabic, this river ran near the iconic Giza pyramid complex and other structures.

The existence of this river explains why 31 pyramids were built in a chain along a now-desert strip in the Nile Valley between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago. Lead study author Eman Ghoneim from the University of North Carolina Wilmington says the river played a “key role in the transportation of the enormous building materials and workmen need for the pyramid’s construction”. The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, suggests the river began to be covered by sand around 4,200 years ago during a major drought.