The ancient Egyptians had the ability to complete sophisticated engineering projects, such as massive pyramids and huge temples, using primitive tools. They have developed stone-cutting methods and transported large rock masses, placing them neatly in their designated places of construction. The pyramids were built on a perfectly flat base;

 Builders, engineers and construction workers used parts of their bodies as a measurement system for length. The primary unit of measurement was the arm, the distance from the elbow to the top of the middle finger of the palm. Despite variations in size for body parts for different workers, that system was appropriate for small enterprises. The royal arm, length 5, 52 cm (6, 20 inches) was used as a criterion in the construction of temples and pyramids; it required greater precision. Engineers, surveyors and construction workers used equipment and instruments to monitor the stars, guide the buildings according to the original four directions, and draw accurate lines and identify existing angles.

 There are several theories about how the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids on a completely flat base. According to the early Egyptologists, the ancient Egyptians first cut off a network of shallow trenches in the base rock, then flooded it, and the increases from the most prominent islands above the water level continued to achieve the level of the rocky foundation. Modern belief, however, says that the ancient Egyptians were satisfied with ensuring that all sectors were distributed around the edges of the pyramid.

 The huge stone blocks were cut from quarries relatively close to construction projects. The limestone quarries were the most common and widespread; close to the areas of Saqqara, Giza and Dahshur, granite was brought from quarries in Aswan. The stone blocks were planned with spaces between them allowing the workers to stand. No saws or perforation equipment have been found, but the frescoes in the tombs give some evidence of the methods used for cutting and polishing limestone or granite blocks. In it, workers use copper saws, drills, shovels, chisels and hammers for granite. It was easy for the hard stone to destroy the copper tools, but it was believed that the workers were overcoming this by placing the sand in the cracks between the stone and the tools, increasing the tools' ability to cut, due to the sharpness of sand crystals.

 After cutting the stones, they were transported by the Nile, over huge wooden platforms; then they were transported to positions above wooden skis towed by hundreds of workers or oxen. The skis were drawn over a smooth pathway, polished with a layer of mud or wet sand, making it easy to move large blocks. The ancient Egyptians used several different types of runways (uphill), internal and external, to the pyramids; in order to pull the blocks of huge stones to their places in construction. They may have used wooden or bronze hoists.

 To raise the weight of the obelisks, the largest of which is about 500 tons, the ancient Egyptians used to first place a pile of sand or rubble close to the site chosen to erect the obelisk. Then pull the obelisk horizontally to the top of the aggregate; facing the base of the foundation. A box-shaped box-shaped stone content was filled around the foundation; it was filled with sand. The obelisk was drawn to settle on the sand; the workers then began to remove the sand from an opening in the bottom of the stone box. As the box gradually empties out of the sand, the obelisk moves slowly inside it until it is erect.

Tags: Sciences

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