Ancient Egyptians may have used an advanced hydraulic lift system to raise the massive stone blocks when building Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Djoser, a new study has found.

The pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt, is considered the oldest of the seven monumental pyramids built around 4,500 years ago.

The six-tier, four-sided structure would have originally stood 62.5 metres tall, with a base measuring 109 metres by 121 metres.

For many years, archaeologists scratched their heads as to how this immense pyramid was constructed. It was often believed that ramps and rollers were the primary methods used in building such structures.

However, in a study led by Xavier Landreau, an engineer and material scientist from the CEA Paleotechnic Institute and his team of French engineers, hydrologists and material scientists have uncovered new insights into the pyramid’s construction.

Using satellite radar imagery and historical archaeological reports, the researchers found that the ancient Egyptians had built a sophisticated...