How to Build the Great Pyramid in 9 Months (NOT aliens)

#ancienthistory #ancientegypt #pyramids #engineering #ancienttechnology

How were the pyramids built? Did ancient Egypt use a mysterious lost ancient technology that science can't explain? Not necessarily. We present a theory how the volume of stone in the Great Pyramid could be raised in about 9 months.

=== Sources ===

Thanks:
Doug McKenzie: "Course Thicknesses of the Great Pyramid"

Books:
Complete Pyramids - Mark Lehner
Engineering the Pyramids - Dick Parry
Le Chambre de Cheops - Gilles Dormion
Building in Egypt - Dieter Arnold
10 Books on Architecture - Vitruvius
Egyptian Phyles in the Old Kingdom - Ann Macy Roth

Papers:
Equids and Wheeled Vehicles in the Ancient World - Raulwing, Lindu, Crouwel
The Rolling Stones - J. Bush
Bronocice, Flintbek, Uruk... - Bakker, Kruk, Lanting, Milisauskas
Early Holocene Pottery in the Western Desert - M. Jordeczka et al
Chariots in the Eurasian Steppe - S. Lindner
Wagons, Carts & Their Significance in Ancient Egypt - H. Kopp-Junk
Adobe Barrel Vaulted Structures in Ancient Egypt - A.O.D. El-Derby, A. Elyamani
Experimental investigation of Mud Bricks - A. V. Oskouei et al
Strength, Sustainability, Affordability of Bamboo & Mud Bricks - L. Mbereyaho & al
Minor Cemetery at Giza - C. Fisher
Brick Architecture in Ancient Egypt - A.J. Spencer
The Amarna Letters (1992) EA 75 - W.L. Moran
Geological & Geomorph. Study of the Original... - S. Raynaud, de La Boisse & al
Chersiphron & Son Engineers - A. Sparavigna

YouTube:

Video:
This Old Pyramid - NOVA
By davemusic973161:

Websites:

Images (Wikimedia):
Wheel chocks placed around an aircraft's landing gear - Dtom
Lever (PSF).png - Pearson Scott Foresman
Obelisk at Alexandria, David Roberts (1796-1864)
Alexandria, Egypt, in 1737-1738, Frederic Louis Norden

Other images:
Temple of Artemis illustration - Tim Shaw (Turbosquid)

@00:00 Start
@01:10 Why?
@02:16 The rubble problem
@12:58 Rolling stones
@17:46 Parbuckling
@18:25 Old Kingdom & the wheel
@23:02 Quarter arcs
@27:22 Containers
@31:52 Fractal ramps
@34:02 Fixed lift stations
@38:41 Granite blocks
@45:31 Time & crew estimates
@49:42 Advantages
@51:04 Conclusion

[nightscarab]

-- GROUNDWORK --
@01:10 Why?
@02:16 The rubble problem
@12:58 Rolling stones
@17:46 Parbuckling
@18:25 Old Kingdom & the wheel
@23:02 Quarter arcs
-- PROPOSAL --
@27:22 Containers
@31:52 Fractal ramps
@34:02 Fixed lift stations
@38:41 Granite blocks
@45:31 Time & crew estimates
@49:42 Advantages
@51:04 Conclusion

[mrburns]

I watched this video at 2x speed to see how a pyramid could be built in 4.5 months.

[erict]

I had not heard of the rubble stones and mortar used as building material until this video pointed it out. Those of us who have never seen the pyramids in person(there are many of us), have been led to believe that the pyramids consist of a few different types of stones, each having been precisely cut to fit tightly against the one next to it. This is what makes the pyramids sound so incredible and improbable. Once you consider that there is a fairly large amount of uncut "filler" material filling cavities between the critical(precisely cut and placed) stone structural parts, then things dont seem so unbelievable. They begin to sound like something that could realistically be done

[SteveBoobJobs]

Normally, I scowl at the site of another pyramid building theory. But this, is by far the best researched video I've seen on the subject in ages; I learned more in this video than I have in over a decade of diving into this stuff...🔥

[ronp]

"A despot had a wish" Much more plausible than giant magnifying glasses liquefying stone into forms.

[leonardlotriet]

The problem most people have is that they think the further back you go the less smart people were. when in fact human ingenuity has always been the same, seeking to improve on what came before.
I thought I might make it 10min in call B.S. and find something else to watch but you had me all the way to the end and I thoroughly enjoyed it...
This is by far the most practical discussion I've seen on the building of the great pyramid with multiple takes on the different proposed methods and research that takes in to account technologies that the Egyptians had access to. 10/10

[benlancini]

The outstanding level of detail, structured argument and supporting research in this visual essay is presented with considerable skill and taste. I learned so much from this. Highest praise!

[vintagelady]

Wow. As a non-engineer, I didn't entirely get all of this, but it made me wish that my dad, who was a mechanical engineer, could be alive to watch it with me; he'd have loved it! I much appreciate the lack of grandiose proclamations that this was the only way, & the scholarly, diligent research that was done at each step of the way. The analysis at the end comparing this method to others proposed was systematic, the graphics & photo inserts were relevant & not repetitive. In short, I can find no way this video might have been improved except to actually get out there & build the thing yourself. If I win a gigantic lottery, I am by golly going to see that it is constructed, I suppose somewhere near Las Vegas (appropriate desert & venue!). I am most pleased that no aliens were harmed in the making of this video.

[Queenskid]

Probably the most down to earth, realistic pyramid discussion i ever seen. If everyone approached it like you we would have already figured this stuff out.

[aarinisles]

Ok, a practical engineering discussion with various possibilities makes the most sense when trying to figure out the pyramids. Nice work!

[stickman-]

Kudos to you. This is one of the best uses of YouTube I've ever seen. Basically you took a well researched and written scientific paper and turned it into a 1 hour video which kept my interest for the full hour. You have done a great job. So the establishment will scorn you. They always do. But you have my gratitude if that means anything.

[VociferousCaster]

This Ramp and Ratchet system seriously cuts down on the man power needed for most of the building, which is the biggest problem with most other build theories. One Ratchet team and two men on ropes duty per ramp, plus a team of masons who don't leave the top isn't unreasonable and from there you just need to move stone to location. This is pretty awesome.

[PerryTamte]

I’ve long been fascinated with the pyramids and their construction, but frequently disappointed by the, “experts, ” promoting their various theories. Many of the academic experts seem ego-driven and too self-certain that their thoughts are the only logical, possible explanation. Many of the amateurs have outrageous theories (aliens, ancient high-tech, etc.), or theories that are illogical or not supported by any evidence or facts. You are the second source (the other being History for Granite) where I have been incredibly impressed with the logic, research, and humble admittance that you are only presenting a theory which may or may not be correct. So refreshing! And, for me, so much more deserving of serious consideration, and having a much higher likelihood of being correct. Incredibly well done! Really enjoyed this, and I’ll be checking out your other videos for sure. Thanks for the hard work.

[markgallagher]

As an engineer I was ready to pour scorn on this video but to my utter amazement I found it workable and concise. It seems to be a valid and possible method to the build. I just wish I'd thought of it.

[goreobsessed]

Ive got an answer for why they didnt adopt wheeled transport. Wheels without any kind of metal reinsforcement fall apart super quick. And they only had acess to bronze which would also fall apart quickly making weels for transportation mostly a novelty. Just didnt make sense with their resources

[derekderek]

How does this not have millions of views? This much effort without the subscriber base is very impressive

[brucewilliams]

Thank you for such a well thought out video! So glad no aliens were involved. This is the most plausible theory I have seen to date. Very impressed.

[johnjohn]

The main thing people need to understand is that in ancient Egypt wood was so rare and hard to get that it was worth way more than its weight in gold. The egyptians would reuse what little wood they had over 100s of years. So to build on a massive scale there is no way they could accomplish what they did using wood.

[thearmoredbard]

I’m not an engineer but I have studied engineering as a hobby. This has been without a doubt, the most comprehensive and well thought out presentation and put forth several incredible ideas and points I’d never thought of that, once presented seemed like a no-brainer. Thank you for this. The most fascinating presentation I’ve seen in a while on any topic.

[-]

I was hoping there would be more discussion about setting stones in place. Like how they are lifted and set tightly together. Then there’s the problem of lifting and setting the casing stones.