Egyptian pyramid construction techniques

There are many theories to transport stone for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. It is still not known how the up to 2.5 -ton stone blocks moved during the construction of the Egyptian pyramids and were piled up. There are and have been numerous clashes between scientists and engineers, as this performance could be accomplished logistically and technologically. Many of the established theories on the pyramids have been refuted, but none can be considered proved to be definitive. Each of the established theories must then be checked, whether the transport of up to 40 -ton ceiling panels can be explained for the grave vault inside the pyramids with her.

• 2.1 Vertical Lift
• 2.2 Seilwinden-/Umlenkrollentheorie

Ramp theories

For all ramp theories the stone blocks were pulled on wooden sleds of workers. To reduce the frictional resistance of the slide, a lubricant or rollers were used under the runners. There are ancient Egyptian figures showing such carriages are pulled by ropes by many workers ( on a horizontal plane ) and stone statues transported with an estimated weight of up to 50 tons.

Just outside ramp

The ramps were being supplied to the building plane of the pyramid and also built with the growth of the pyramid continuously into the air.

Against this theory is the fact that the length of the ramp at a 10% slope at the Cheops pyramid would have had a length of about 1.5 kilometers and for the construction of more material than would have been necessary for the pyramid itself

Interior and exterior ramps

A combination of internal and external ramps allowing easy transport of up to 50 tons of heavy stone slabs of the grave chamber and other stones for the overlying pyramid parts. A straight external ramp had to be led only to a height of one third of the total height to reach the grave chamber. At this height, around 80 % of the stone material for the pyramid are installed. It is assumed that the ramp was set with the missing 20 % stone material. This was dismantled gradually with increasing height to use the ramp as a building material for the top of the pyramid can. Ramps of sand beds are therefore not likely. In the top building section, the ramps were applied within the pyramid volume and filled as the last of the tip to the grave chamber level down.

Spiral ramp

The spiral ramps were built outside of the pyramid along. Since they partially used as base already finished pyramid, they needed relatively little private building material and could be dismantled after the completion of the pyramid.

Tunneling theory

The tunnel represent a modification of the spiral ramp, wherein the ramp is within the pyramid ( blank and so tunnel or inside ramp ), which are filled by the end of the pyramid construction from top to bottom. Jean-Pierre Houdin assumes that the stones are transported along a tunnel in the interior of the pyramid. This ramp was continuously grown with and led spiral below the four outer sides up. The corners of the pyramid were open and the stones were filmed there. With this assumption accounts for the vast amounts of building materials that would have been necessary with the alternate lateral ramps or around the pyramid itself around spiraling ramp. According to archaeological evidence should be sought on site.

Elevator theory

About sled similar transport each stone block was razed in a basket on a ramp of solid mud of the Nile to the pyramid outside in height, while on a plane parallel path beside slid a basket with counterweight, which was connected by ropes and pulleys with the cargo basket, down. As a counterbalance human workers were used. Was the cargo basket arrived with the stone at the top level, the workers climbed back up to serve for the next stone as a counterweight. To simplify the organization of work when changing to the next higher plane of construction, there were elevators on different pyramid flanks. In the upper regions of the structure of the counterweight elevator was arranged because of lack of space is no longer on the same, but on the opposite edge of the pyramid, whereby the deflection accounted for.

The much heavier granite blocks for the roof over the grave chambers were located in this theory at a very early stage on the unfinished pyramid and were, for example, by means of levers and supporting structures by many small lever operations and subsequent relining or short ramps of a construction plane to the next promoted.

Vertical lift

A variant of this theory is a counterweight lift with two perpendicular shafts, which were placed near the center of the pyramid base. The shafts were reached via tunnel from the outside, which were later closed again. At a certain height, the pyramid was built further than Tower with vertical side walls in order to always have a sufficient working space. The tower ( which could be bricked even from smaller stones ) was scaled back after the completion of the pyramid. The Egyptologist Christine El Mahdy has dealt with ancient sources on this topic, favoring the construction via shafts to all ramp theories.

Seilwinden-/Umlenkrollentheorie

The winch theory represents a modification of the elevator theory in which the counterweight of the elevator is replaced by winches which are rotated by humans or animals. The use of pulleys could have reduced the force required to lift the elevator or grinding baskets. About the pulleys on the train from the pyramid base could have been exercised without deflection pulleys workers or draft animals would have had to draw on the construction plane.

Crane theory

The stone blocks were loaded into baskets, which were transported by cranes that were on each pyramid level, from one level to the next. The cranes were arranged so that they are the blocks could each range from one level to the next is. The crane worked like a beam balance with a load and a counterweight basket. As a counterweight turn people who climbed to the second basket served. The balance beam has arrived at the top be rotated about supports, until the stone block could be stored. The workers, who acted as a counterweight, now hanging outside the pyramid and left on a rope down a gangway or the basket. The next crane picked up the cargo basket and carried it further. Instead of the beam balances design and jacks may have come with traction devices are used.

Against the lift and crane theories is the fact that no anchorages for such devices have been found in or on a pyramid. This may have been closed but also later with nachgeschoben stones again.

Staircase theory

Herodotus, the casing stones were smoothed to the conclusion, from top to bottom. They were previously " graded like stairs or steps or altar steps ". If one gives Herodotus believed, then the pyramid flanks were initially designed as stairs and thus made for a large number of construction workers and helpers at the same time accessible. A cladding stone, for example, three steps have à 24 cm, the chiseled completion, be so smooth. ( Pyramids with existing external stairs are from Central America known). In some places the flanks missing the steps, so here leading upwards gutters occur, which serve as guides for the smooth slide with the stone blocks. On both sides of the trough is perfect for large train crews on many ropes that secure footing find on the steps to draw about 20 kg per man up without moving himself upwards. Flying change of the backup crew is possible. In an emergency, the carriage at any point can be canted in the groove so that it inhibits itself and not a disaster triggers. The staircase theory thus represents a special case of the ramp theories in which the pyramid flank itself acts as a ramp.

The trough is kept slippery; they will not enter, but crossed on a plank. The staircase serves as a broad supply route for teams, tools and water as well as for transportation of accident victims, there was no doubt. The placement of the pyramidion is made technically possible by the four tapered stairs at the top.

Since no sight obstruction is by auxiliary buildings, explains the constant re-measurement of the building extraordinary precision of the structure as a whole. The first use as a causeway explains the high cost of the panel.

Combination of theories

Are conceivable construction techniques, which are a combination of these theories. Thus it is possible that the pyramids were supplied up to a certain height with ramps, stones, such as up to the grave chamber ceiling at about 50 meters, which corresponds to a built pyramid volume of about 80%. After that one of the other described methods of transportation for the other blocks of stone has come to apply.