Engineering the Pyramids

the long version

In Engineering the Pyramids, author Dick Parry - a civil engineer - assesses the design of the pyramids and the likely methods of quarrying, transporting and raising the stones. Basing his ideas on both the archaeological record and the basic principles of engineering - as well as the results from a series of model and full-scale tests - Dr. Parry provides a challenging answer to this mystery of the pyramids. He suggests that ramps were used and the huge stones were transported and raised by rolling them, rather than using highly inefficient sledges beloved of Egyptologists.