Building the Pyramids

   Pyramids are the earliest buildings made by cutting, shaping and fitting stones together. In fact, Egypt led the world in stonework for 2,000 years! Workers worked in "gangs". These gangs usually had names, such as "Angry Bear". The gangs sometimes carved the group name into the stones. The first stone blocks to arrive at the pyramid site were used to make a solid and sturdy path to transport the other stone blocks. The stones were cut out of the ground using copper, stone, or wooden tools. Some stones were delivered to the pyramid site by sledges (sleds used for transporting heavy loads). The large gangs of workers pulled the sledges. Other stones were carried by boats to the pyramid site from a quarry, and then transported onto the sledges. The stones were as big as a family car, and often weighed 2 ½ tons, which is more than what a family car would weigh. It was a really big task to cut and fit the stones to size. Stonemasons immediately set to work on the next stones to arrive. Masons cut and carved each stone exactly so that they would fit in its spot on the pyramid. In order to cut the stones, they made grooves in the stones, and then placed wooden wedges into the grooves. Then, water was poured onto the wedges, making them swell up and expand. That would cause the stone to split. After the first layer of the pyramid was built, the ramps that were built over dirt and rubble were laid down so that the workers could get the stones up to the next level. Many ramps were used in the process of making one pyramid. Ramps may have run from one level of the pyramid to another. The inside of the pyramid was made out of limestone from the city of Giza. However, the better quality limestone on the outside of the pyramid was from the city of Tura. Smoother, white stones and protection cover were put on after the pyramid was completed, while the workers were taking down the ramps.  Also, at this time, the sculptors and painters got the inside of the tomb and burial chamber ready. Over the years, though, the shiny white polish was removed to use on other buildings and towers, revealing the rough stone underneath. All of the Middle Kingdom pyramids were built out of mud bricks, so they crumbled when this was done.