Ancient aliens? No, scientists discover real secret behind Egypt’s pyramids

Considered one of the seven wonders of the world, Egypt’s pyramids have attracted tourists, awe and a fair amount of conspiracy theories as to how the massive structures were built.

Now, researchers from the University of Amsterdam believe they’ve discovered ancient Egyptians’ strategy for transporting blocks of stone across the Valley of the Kings in around 2,000BC: wet sand.

Dutch researchers are concluding that the Egyptians placed heavy objects on a sledge, pulled by hundreds of workers, and simply poured water on the sand in front, CBS News reported on Thursday.

Physicists at the university found out that dampening the sand in front of the transporting device reduces friction on the sled, making it easier to operate and reducing the number of workers needed.

Researchers picked up on clues left behind by the ancient Egyptians themselves; a wall painting discovered in the ancient tomb of Djehutihotep, which dates back to about 1900 B.C., depicts 172 men hauling a large statue using ropes attached to a sledge. A person can be seen standing on the front of the sledge, pouring liquid over the sand, said study lead author Daniel Bonn, a physics professor at the University of Amsterdam, according to LiveScience.com.

The researchers published their findings this week in the journal Physical Review Letters.

Conspiracy theories on the Pyramids include some people’s belief that aliens descended to help the ancient Egyptian civilization build the structures, with an entire series on the U.S.-based History Channel dedicated to the subject.