Discovery of Lost Nile Branch May Solve Pyramid Mystery

Archaeologists have long been perplexed by the location of ancient Egyptian pyramids on a narrow strip of desert, and recent discoveries may provide an explanation. Scientists have uncovered evidence of a 40-mile-long branch of the Nile River that once flowed alongside over 30 pyramids in Egypt. This hidden river branch was buried under desert and farmland for millennia, but its existence would explain why the pyramids were built in a chain along this now inhospitable strip. The discovery is significant because it suggests that the pharaohs' tombs originally sat next to a crucial artery for commerce, culture, and building materials. The construction of the pyramids began around 4,700 years ago, when the Nile River would have been an essential resource for the ancient Egyptians. The new study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, mapped the area using advanced technology and provides conclusive evidence of the river's existence.