One significant revelation came from a team of international scientists who proposed that the ancient Egyptians used water to facilitate the movement of massive stone blocks. As depicted in ancient tomb art, laborers were shown pouring water in front of sleds carrying stones. This was not merely a ceremonial act but a practical method to reduce friction. By wetting the sand, the grains stuck together, significantly decreasing the effort needed to drag the sleds across the desert.
Another theory suggests that the Egyptians constructed internal ramps within the pyramid structures. These ramps would have allowed workers to transport the heavy stones to higher levels as the pyramid grew. Although there is no direct evidence of such ramps on the pyramid exteriors, some archaeologists believe that air pockets within the walls indicate their presence.
Mark Lehner, an Egyptologist, posited that the Nile River played a crucial role in transporting the stones. His research uncovered an ancient port near the pyramids, suggesting that the Egyptians used a network of canals to ferry the stones closer to the construction site. This theory is supported by the discovery of a papyrus diary belonging to a foreman named Merer, which detailed the logistics of moving limestone blocks from Tura to Giza using waterways.