The Mega-Ramp Pyramid Theory http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza#Construction_theories http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/80732.html http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pyramidlifts.htm http://www.world-mysteries.com/mpl_2_1.htm http://members.aol.com/aditt48670/pyramid.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/great_pyramid_01.shtml - Construction took 20 years, involved thousands and incorporated 4 Stages. - First Stage (Planning Stage): Site selected, leveled and found the location of true north. Placed on the west bank of the Nile (Religion associated death with the setting sun) - Above the flood level of the river, close enough to transport large stone building blocks - Close to capital (Pharaoh would watch progress) - Second Stage (Mining Stage): Stones had to be cut, but they were found nearby Giza or from the Tura Quarries across the Nile in the Arabian hills. - This proves that the stones could be found and gotten to be used - Third Stage (Transportation): Stones weighed 2.3 tones; enough people could move the stones because the weight would be easily distributed. - Stones could’ve been brought down on boats on the Nile and the annual inundations helped. The Nile was an excellent transportation route, so this was possible. - Final Stage (Construction): Stonemasons cut the stones to proper size to build the pyramid from the base upwards. Underground rooms and corridors were cut from the bedrock following the plan. - Supply ramps made of brick were made to reach higher levels. After capstone was placed, stonemasons would smooth the face of the casing stones, some remains of these stoned can still be found today at the bottom of the Great Pyrami