Behind the splendor of the pyramids, there is one big puzzle. How the raw materials of ancient building, which is even visible from the outer space, brought to the construction site?
The question above is based on the severity of the job to brings the massive stones in the desert, and the lack of supporting technology. While those massive stones are needed in large quantities. Meanwhile, a sophisticated tools that can be used to transport it across the desert did not exist at the time of Ancient Egypt.
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| They likely wet the sand for the construction of the pyramids, the ancient Egyptians had to transport heavy blocks of stone and large statues across the desert. The Egyptians therefore placed the heavy objects on a sledge that workers pulled over the sand. Research … revealed that the Egyptians probably made the desert sand in front of the sledge wet. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1PV6gSM) |
Daniel Bonn of the University of Amsterdam said that he had managed to solve the puzzle in a research that published in the Physical Review Letters journal on Wednesday, April 29, 2015.
Bonn and his colleagues say, that the Ancient Egyptians may carry the massive stones with 'clever tricks'. They use some sort of carts to carry the massive stone, pulling in the desert that has been moistened with water.
In one study, Bonn conducted experiments in the laboratory by using Ancient Egypt miniature carts and a container of sand that has been dried in an oven. Water is added to the sand until it reaches a certain wet level that will form a "capillary bridge". Water droplets will act as the glue that holds the sand, making it rigid and minimize friction with the moving objects on it.
"I was surprised that the total tensile force that it can be reduced by up to 50 percent," Bonn said as quoted by the Washington Post on Monday, April 27, 2015. With reduced tensile strength required, the number of people required to pull a cart that containing stones is also half of the total required if the desert in the dry state. Reduced the friction and tensile strength occurs because the wetting sand causes increased the stiffness of desert sand.
"The carts move more easily on the wet desert sand because it does not form a mound of sand in front of the cart, not as happens when a cart drawn on dry sand," explained Bonn further.
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| Wall painting found in the tomb of Djehutihotep. A large statue is being transported by sledge. A person standing on the front of the sledge wets the sand. (Picture from: http://wapo.st/1i8u8Pn) |
The conclusion was the water facilitates the transport of stone to the pyramid construction site is strengthened by the presence of a painting in the tomb of Djehutihotep. It depicts the gray and orange sparks with a person standing in front of the cart while spraying water. The painting previously had been sparked much debate.
This study provides a scientific explanation of the water function in the pyramid construction were originally only associated with washing. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WASHINGTON POST]
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