A new study on the construction of Egypt’s Great Pyramid has introduced a fresh perspective to a long-running debate, claiming that four separate spiral ramps built inside the structure were used to transport massive stone blocks to higher levels. The theory is based on computer modeling and is presented as being consistent with the pyramid’s estimated construction timeline.
The study, presented by researcher Vicente Luis Rosell Roig and published in the journal Nature, suggests that four internal spiral ramps were incorporated into the pyramid during construction. According to the research, this approach could help explain how the monument was completed within the historical timeframe attributed to its construction.
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built approximately 4,500 years ago for Pharaoh Khufu, is regarded as one of the world’s most remarkable engineering achievements. It is the largest pyramid in Egypt and was constructed using around 2.3 million stone blocks. The stones are estimated to weigh between 2.5 and 15 tonnes on average. Historians estimate that the pyramid was completed during Khufu’s roughly 27-year reign, raising longstanding questions about how such a massive structure was built within that period despite limited resources and technology.
According to the new research, four separate spiral ramps were constructed inside the pyramid, each beginning at different points and extending toward the upper sections. This arrangement would have allowed multiple work teams to move stones simultaneously along different routes. The researcher argues that if only a single ramp had been used, construction could have taken about 50 years, a timeframe that does not align with historical estimates.
Analysis based on computer modeling found that a four-ramp system could substantially increase construction speed. The model suggests that large numbers of stone blocks could have been transported simultaneously to different levels, enabling the project to be completed within the proposed timeframe.
Several theories have previously been put forward to explain the construction of the Great Pyramid. The most widely known theory involves external ramps, which proposes that stones were hauled upward along large sloping pathways. However, critics of this theory have argued that such ramps would have required vast quantities of additional building material and that some physical remains of them should still be detectable.
Another theory proposed the existence of a single internal ramp within the pyramid. According to the new study, however, one ramp alone would not have provided the required construction pace. For this reason, the concept of four parallel ramps is presented as a more practical solution.
Experts say the theory appears interesting and plausible, but it should not be regarded as a definitive conclusion. Future advanced scanning and structural investigations inside the pyramid may provide evidence capable of confirming the model. If validated, the theory could help explain the construction of the Great Pyramid and contribute to a better understanding of ancient Egyptian building techniques.
