A team of scientists in Egypt has found evidence that a river flowed close to the giant structures in the Giza Plateau. This discovery could reveal more about how the world-famous pyramids were constructed.

The fact that the Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, are located in the middle of a desert has always baffled historians as many similar monuments and temples across the world lie close to waterways.

However, an international team at the University of North Carolina in the U.S. says a waterway could be close to the renowned monolith statue. They have provided evidence that a 64-kilometer-long branch of the River Nile actually existed next to the site over 4,000 years ago.

Experts believe it may have once been a branch of the River Nile. Only two of the seven historic branches remain.

"There were no cars, planes or trucks at that time. So we have always predicted that ancient Egyptians used boats to transport materials for building the pyramids, but it's a desert. This discovery confirmed to us that the huge blocks were transported on a waterway from the quarries very far away to the Pyramids area. It's a major breakthrough," said Ahmed Amer, an Egyptologist.

Most Archaeologists estimate that over 2.3 million granite blocks, weighing about 2.5 tons each, were assembled to build just one pyramid, a burial place for ancient Egyptian kings.

Without modern-day technologies, it could not have been possible. Fortunately, the recent discovery offers archaeologists a possible answer to this extraordinary feat.

"It proves again that the Nile River has always been the source of life for Egyptians since ancient times. It was not only used for drinking and agriculture but also for transport, construction and building a civilization," Ahmed Amer said.

Radar imagery and soil testing show the buried waterway flows alongside more than 30 other pyramids, including the famous Great Pyramid of Giza.

Some archaeologists believe the unearthed river has now raised more questions than answers.

"There were definitely people living on the banks of this 64-kilometer river. Who were they, where did they go, where are their remains, monuments and statues? Will we discover another civilization buried along this route? Also, why did the river dry up? What happened? " said Magdy Shaker, an Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry archaeologist.

While the discovery may have unveiled how workers transported those massive blocks to the site, scientists have yet to resolve the main mystery: how the pyramids were built.

SHOTLIST:

Cairo, Eygpt - May 24, 2024
1. Various of pyramids, tourists;
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Ahmed Amer, Egyptologist (partially overlaid with shot 3):
"There were no cars, planes or trucks at that time. So we have always predicted that ancient Egyptians used boats to transport materials for building the pyramids, but it's a desert. This discovery confirmed to us that the huge blocks were transported on a waterway from the quarries very far away to the Pyramids area. It's a major breakthrough.";
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3. Various of pyramids;
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4. Various of tourists, pyramids;
5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Ahmed Amer, egyptologist (partially overlaid with shot 6):
"It proves again that the Nile River has always been the source of life for Egyptians since ancient times. It was not only used for drinking and agriculture but also for transport, construction and building a civilization.";
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
6. Pyramids;
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7. Various of pyramids;
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic, dubbed in English) Magdy Shaker, archaeologist, Egyptian Tourism and Antiquities Ministry (partially overlaid with shot 9/ending with shot 10):
"There were definitely people living on the banks of this 64-km river. Who were they, where did they go, where are their remains, monuments and statues? Will we discover another civilization buried along this route? Also, why did the river dry up? What happened? ";
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9. Various of wall paintings;
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10. Various of tourists, pyramids.

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