Pyramids

• Few things from the ancient world fascinate us as much as the pyramids. Found in several regions across the world, including relics from the Aztecs and Mayans of South America, it is the Egyptian pyramids that are the focus of so much mystery and study. These grand structures seem to defy our beliefs about ancient cultures and capabilities, to the point where some even believe the pyramids were created by an alien race. While we may never know for certain how the pyramids were made, modern scientists and archaeologists think they have a fairly good idea.
  
  

Construction

• For a great many years, people believed that the pyramids were the result of the Egyptians possessing some form of technology that had since been lost to time. It was this belief that indeed created even more mystery surrounding their construction. What could they have had? Why was the technology lost? Today, however, archaeologists agree that the building process was not as complex as previously believed. They estimate that the job could have been done by 20,000 manual laborers (though not slaves, as many think) in as little as 20 years.
  
  

Material

• The pyramids themselves were constructed out of material that was readily available in the region at the time they were erected. This meant the core of the pyramids were made from limestone. Limestone also was used to make the outer layer of the construction, though it was of a higher quality. The purpose of this was to give the pyramid a shiny veneer, making it easily visible from great distances. Finally, some form of rock would be used to create the cap of the pyramid, including granite and basalt. This could then be plated with gold or silver.