Did the Egyptians use a lift to build a pyramid?

The Step Pyramid of Djoser is Egypt's oldest pyramid

The pyramids of Egypt were built thousands of years ago - but how they were put together has baffled scientists for a long time.

However, experts now think they might have solved the mystery.

A new study suggests that the ancient Egyptians used a water 'lift' inside the pyramid.

This would have helped raise the heavy stones through the chamber like magma moving up a volcano.

What have experts discovered?

The Step Pyramid of Djoser is considered to be the oldest pyramid in Egypt and was built more than 4,500 years ago.

Located just south of the country's capital Cairo, it rises in six stepped layers to an impressive height of 62.5 metres.

Now a team of French researchers believe they might have worked out how the huge pyramid was built.

Experts looked at the landscape around the pyramid as well as the tunnels and interior of the structure and say they have found evidence that the ancient Egyptians might have used a water-based system.

They suggest that a nearby stone structure called Gisr el-Mudir - was designed to capture water from the surrounding area and transport it into the pyramid.

Once inside, a float system was used which would see rising water levels lift the float, which could carry the heavy stones up through the inside of the pyramid, to where they were needed.

The ancient Egyptians were experts at construction because they were very inventive and experts think this could have helped them come up with the clever idea!

Why were the pyramids built?

The pyramids of Egypt are some of the wonders of the world.

Most of the pyramids were built as tombs - the final resting places for Egypt's royalty who took all their worldly possessions with them.

The pyramids were ordered by the kings of ancient Egyptian society called Pharaohs.

They found the best engineers and architects to help design and build the monuments.

The most famous is the Great Pyramid of Giza at 480 feet high made from 2.3 million large blocks!