# How were the blocks raised onto the pyramid? · How the Great Pyramid was built > Five answers have been proposed. Shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with… leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:32+00:00 --- **0** # How were the blocks raised onto the pyramid? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·5 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Five answers have been proposed. Shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with… leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Four are still possible. ## Why it matters Who built the pyramid, when and with what tools is documented; the lifting method is the one part of the construction with no surviving physical trace at Giza, and the rival ramp reconstructions make different demands on material, labour and surveying⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHQM5ZRN/hatnoub-2019). ## Answers 5 [**Shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/answers/ANS0CSMNYDW4D5X/shorter-steeper-ramps-were-used-with-post-and-rope-haulage) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Most likely [**A ramp wound round the faces on the unfinished steps or on brick supports.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/answers/ANS0CSMNX6T69NG/a-ramp-wound-round-the-faces-on-the-unfinished-steps-or-on) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**A single straight ramp from the quarry side, lengthened and raised as the pyramid grew.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/answers/ANS0CSMNW7J2D3B/a-single-straight-ramp-from-the-quarry-side-lengthened-and) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 2 for, 1 against Still possible [**An internal ramp inside the outer part of the pyramid carried blocks to the upper courses (Houdin).** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/answers/ANS0CSMNXY80SFV/an-internal-ramp-inside-the-outer-part-of-the-pyramid) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-pyramid/answers/ANS0CSMNZ5A6CV9/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 1991[Arnold puts forward: a single straight ramp from the quarry side, lengthened and raised as the pyramid grew.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry) 1. 1991[Arnold puts forward: a ramp wound round the faces on the unfinished steps or on brick supports.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry) 1. 1991[Arnold: no ramp remains have been found at the Great Pyramid.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry)Against: A single straight ramp from the quarry side, lengthened and raised as the pyramid grew. 1. 1991[Arnold: the core quarry lies 300 m south of the pyramid, on the line a straight ramp would take.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry)For: A single straight ramp from the quarry side, lengthened and raised as the pyramid grew. 1. 1991[Arnold: a spiral ramp hides the corners that surveyors needed to keep the faces true.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry)Against: A ramp wound round the faces on the unfinished steps or on brick supports. 1. 1991[Arnold: wrap-around ramp traces exist at some Old and Middle Kingdom pyramids.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHFT29PG/building-in-egypt-pharaonic-stone-masonry)For: A ramp wound round the faces on the unfinished steps or on brick supports. 1. 2017[Morishima et al. puts forward: an internal ramp inside the outer part of the pyramid carried blocks to the upper courses (Houdin).](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNJ781SGV/discovery-of-a-big-void-in-khufus-pyramid-by-observation-of) 1. 2017[Morishima et al.: muon imaging found a void above the Grand Gallery, not a spiral corridor near the faces; the authors did not…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNJ781SGV/discovery-of-a-big-void-in-khufus-pyramid-by-observation-of)Against: An internal ramp inside the outer part of the pyramid carried blocks to the upper courses (Houdin). 1. 2018[University of Liverpool: the Hatnub ramp served a quarry, not a pyramid; no equivalent is known at Giza.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHZE0ZN5/ancient-quarry-ramp-system-may-have-helped-workers-build)Against: Shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with… 1. 2020[Gourdon et al. puts forward: shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHQM5ZRN/hatnoub-2019) 1. 2020[Gourdon et al.: a ramp with flanking staircases and post holes, dated to Khufu's reign, hauled alabaster up slopes of 20 per…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CSMNHQM5ZRN/hatnoub-2019)For: Shorter, steeper ramps were used with post-and-rope haulage of the kind excavated at Hatnub, combined with… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-pyramid/questions/QST0CSMNV0G4ZBV/how-were-the-blocks-raised-onto-the-pyramid%23add-source) Where it fits How the Great Pyramid was built **How were the blocks raised onto the pyramid?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]