Egypt’s Great Pyramids have been a source of wonder and mystery for centuries. But recent research has shed a dazzling light on the secrets of how they were created, and how this involved the impressive use of water. Now, a new study has suggested that at least one of the great structures was built using equipment that was far more sophisticated than once thought.

The paper, published in the journal PLOS ONE on 5 August, posits that the iconic 4,500-year-old Step Pyramid of Djoser was erected with the help of a unique hydraulic lift system. In the past, experts believed that the Step Pyramid was most likely constructed using a network of ramps and levers. However, the latest analysis, led by Xavier Landreau of France’s CEA Paleotechnic Institute, suggests that the Ancient Egyptians channelled nearby canals to power weight-bearing lifts.

The study suggests that water was enabled to flow into two shafts, located in the pyramid itself, which were used to help raise and lower a float used to carry the heavy stone building blocks. “Ancient Egyptians are famous for their pioneering and mastery of hydraulics through canals for irrigation purposes and barges to transport huge stones,” the researchers wrote

“This work opens a new line of research: the use of hydraulic force to erect the massive structures built by Pharaohs.” The Step Pyramid, is believed to have been built in around 2680 BCE as a funerary complex for the Third Dynasty pharaoh Djoser. Yet, the precise method of its construction has always remained unclear.

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