Unveiling the Secrets - Why Egypt's Pyramids Were Built Along a Desert Strip

Why were the largest concentration of pyramids in Egypt built along a narrow desert strip

A study published in the journal Communications, Earth and Environment has revealed new insights into this ancient mystery

Since the dawn of the Pharaonic era, the Nile River has been the lifeblood of Egyptian civilization

It provided essential sustenance and served as the primary route for transporting goods and building materials

This is why most of the main cities of ancient Egypt were established near the banks of the Nile and its branches

However, over the centuries, the primary channel of the Nile shifted laterally, causing its peripheral branches to silt up

This shift isolated population centers from the vital resources the river once provided

This phenomenon is particularly evident with the pyramids along the western desert plateau

where most pyramids are concentrated along a narrow desert strip, several kilometers from the current primary channel of the Nile

Using a combination of radar satellite imagery, geophysical data and deep soil coring

researchers have investigated the subsurface structure and sedimentology in the Nile Valley adjacent to the pyramid clusters

Their findings revealed an extinct branch of the primary channel, known as the Aramat branch

This branch was connected to the pyramids of the Old and Middle Kingdoms via causeways and valley temples

The Aramat branch played a role in the monument's construction and was used as a transportation waterway for workmen and building materials to the pyramids' sites

The eastward migration and eventual abandonment of the Aramat branch could be attributed to several factors

The gradual movement of the river to the lower-lying adjacent floodplain, tilting of the Nile floodplain due to tectonic activity, and wind-blown sand incursion from the western desert plateau

The study has provided a clearer understanding of why the pyramids were built where they are

The now-abandoned Aramat branch once played a crucial role in their construction and transportation logistics

This discovery sheds light on ancient engineering marvels and the dynamic environmental changes that shaped the history of Egyptian civilization