Now, a team of engineers and geologists brings a new theory to the table — a hydraulic lift device that would have floated the heavy stones up through the middle of Egypt’s oldest pyramid using stored water. Water from ancient streams flowed into a system of trenches and tunnels that surrounded the Step Pyramid, according to the study team. The shaft within the Step Pyramid is connected to a 200-meter-long (656-foot-long) underground tunnel that connects to another vertical shaft outside the pyramid. Conversely, a moderate-sized hydraulic lift can raise 50 to 100 tons. “It doesn’t mean (the hydraulic lift device) wasn’t used,” she added.

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Persons: Pharaoh Djoser, ”, Dr, Xavier Landreau, aren’t, David Jeffreys, Paleotechnic, Guillaume Piton, Judith Bunbury, rainier, Jeffreys, Fabian Welc, Stefan Wyszynski, Welc, ” Welc, King Djoser, Landreau, University of Cambridge geoarchaeologist, ” Bunbury Organizations: CNN, University College London, France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, Institute of Environmental Geosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, University of Cambridge, of Archaeology, Stefan Wyszynski University Locations: Egypt, Paris, London, Old, Old Kingdom, Kingdom, Moat, Warsaw, Poland, Saqqāra, Giza, University of Cambridge geoarchaeologist Bunbury