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Another news item that has had widespread coverage is the claim that the Step Pyramid of Djoser was built using a hydraulic lift. Research by a privately owned French institute specialising in hydrology, archaeology, and geotechnics suggests that the ancient Egyptians created a dam within the structure, known as the Gisr el-Mudir, to trap sediment and water, and dug a deep trench to act as a water-treatment facility to remove sediments. Combined, these two structures formed a hydraulic system that cleaned water and regulated its flow, with clean water being channelled into an underground well beneath the pyramid. Raising and lowering the level of water created what the team describes as a water-powered elevator, allowing stones to be ‘floated’ on the water up to where they were needed. However, the team’s hypothesis – published in the online journal PLOS ONE – is controversial and has been met with scepticism from a number of scientists and Egyptologists.
Text: Sarah Griffiths / Image: Robert B Partridge
