Now, they say the key was simple – wet sand.

‘For the construction of the pyramids, the ancient Egyptians had to transport heavy blocks of stone and large statues across the desert,’ researchers at the University of Amsterdam said.

The team tried to replicate this – and found wet sand was the key.

The Egyptians therefore placed the heavy objects on a sledge that workers pulled over the sand. 

Research from the University of Amsterdam has now revealed that the Egyptians probably made the desert sand in front of the sledge wet.