‘Ramps’ Near Egypt’s Red Pyramid Might Actually Be Ancient Dams

Gayoung Lee· Aug 7, 2026 · 3:45 PM UTC ·3 min read · 0 reactions · 0 comments · 4 views

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For nearly a century, archaeologists believed that two huge, linear structures near Egypt’s Red Pyramid were ramps to move stones. A new analysis of the pyramid, located at the Dashur necropolis in modern-day Cairo, suggests that the “ramps” were actually large dams. If true, this means that ancient Egypt’s architects and construction workers used a hydraulic system to supply water to the construction site nearly 5,000 years ago, according to an early-access version of the study provided by npj Heritage Science.

Key facts

▪For nearly a century, archaeologists believed that two huge, linear structures near Egypt’s Red Pyramid were ramps to move stones.
▪A new analysis of the pyramid, located at the Dashur necropolis in modern-day Cairo, suggests that the “ramps” were actually large dams.
▪If true, this means that ancient Egypt’s architects and construction workers used a hydraulic system to supply water to the construction site nearly 5,000 years ago, according to an early-access version of the study provided by npj Heritage

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Original publisher	Gizmodo
Canonical URL	https://gizmodo.com/ramps-near-egypts-red-pyramid-might-actually-be-ancient-dams-2000795906
Publication time	Fri, 07 Aug 2026 15:45:53 +0000
Retrieval time	2026-08-07T15:50:47.675Z
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand

For nearly a century, archaeologists believed that two huge, linear structures near Egypt’s Red Pyramid were ramps to move stones. They might have been wrong. A new analysis of the pyramid, located at the Dashur necropolis in modern-day Cairo, suggests that the “ramps” were actually large dams. If true, this means that ancient Egypt’s architects and construction workers used a hydraulic system to supply water to the construction site nearly 5,000 years ago, according to an early-access version of the study provided by npj Heritage Science.

…

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