New evidence helps to shed some light on how the ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Archaeologists have found that Egyptians used boats to carry 170,000 tonnes of limestone to construct the giant monument.
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Credit: Channel 4/Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence
Although historians have known for a long time that the rock used was quarried eight miles away from the site of the pyramid in Tura, and that the granite used was from Aswan - 533 miles away, it wasn't understood how the 2600BC building supplies were transported, with experts having differing opinions.
Now, archaeologist have discovered an ancient scroll, a ceremonial boat and a network of waterways, according to the Daily Mail.
Credit: Channel 4/Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence
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The newly found evidence shows that the limestone was transported along the river Nile using wooden boats built with planks and rope - and the man-power of thousands.
Using specially designed canals, the 170,000 tonnes of stone were carried in blocks weighing around two and a half tons, before arriving an in-land port which was just a few feet from the pyramid. Clever.
Credit: PA
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Archaeologist Mark Lehner, who uncovered the 'lost waterway', said: "We've outlined the central canal basin which we think was the primary delivery area to the foot of the Giza Plateau."
The scroll archaeologists found is the first, and so far, only, record of how they were built. It has details about how it was moved using the ancient waterways.
The team also found a ceremonial boat, which they used a 3D laser scanner on to find out how it was constructed and found that rope loops were used to hold the planks together.
Credit: Channel 4/Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence
The new findings will be presented in a documentary on Channel 4 tonight at 8pm, called Egypt's Great Pyramid: The New Evidence.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: egypt