New Great Pyramid theory proposes interior counterweight pulley system for lifting blocks. Paper proposes the Grand Gallery and ascending passage functioned as one long sliding ramp with 26.5 degree slope Heavy counterweights on wooden sledges slid downward through passages to generate lifting force Anti-chamber interpreted as pulley-lifting unit rather than portcullis for blocking intruders
New theory suggests the Great Pyramid's Grand Gallery functioned as a sliding ramp with a 26.5-degree slope! Researchers propose heavy counterweight slabs on wooden sledges descended through interior passages, generating lifting force for ascending blocks. The anti-chamber may have been a pulley-lifting unit, with floor inlays guiding sledges. Repeated lifting cycles using descending mass to pull rising stones could explain how massive blocks were moved. 🏛️
Key Facts
- Paper proposes the Grand Gallery and ascending passage functioned as one long sliding ramp with 26.5 degree slope
- Heavy counterweights on wooden sledges slid downward through passages to generate lifting force
- Anti-chamber interpreted as pulley-lifting unit rather than portcullis for blocking intruders
- Floor slabs identified as inlays rather than continuous original floor
- Ropes would have passed over wooden elements above an open shaft for vertical lifting
- System involved repeated lifting cycles with dedicated counterweight slabs and exchange systems
- Descending mass helped pull rising stones with minimal extra force beyond friction and resetting
Related site: The Great Pyramid of Giza — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: 10 Ancient Technologies Newly Discovered (2026) by World of Antiquity