The Great Pyramid of Giza is remarkably resilient to earthquakes – this is due to the “extraordinary” engineering knowledge of the ancient Egyptians

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, also known as the Great Pyramid of Khufu, has stood for more than 4,600 years, even during powerful earthquakes. Now, new research explains why: The structure has remarkable resilience in the face of vibration.

The pyramid has lost only about 33 feet (10 meters) in height since it was built during Egypt’s Old Kingdom (2649 to 2150 BC). This is despite being exposed to powerful earthquakes over thousands of years, including a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck south of Cairo in the city of Fayoum in 1847 and a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in 1992 that sent some of the top stones falling to the ground.

The new study of vibrations throughout the pyramid’s structure suggests that certain architectural features, such as a series of chambers known as decompression chambers above the chamber in which Pharaoh Khufu rested, serve to dampen seismic movement toward the top of the structure.

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“[T]“The study highlights the extraordinary practical engineering knowledge of ancient Egyptian builders, who developed highly efficient building practices through centuries of experimentation and improvement,” study co-author Assem Salama, a geoscientist at the National Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics Research in Cairo, wrote to Live Science in an email.

Salama and his team placed vibration sensors at 37 locations in and around the Great Pyramid, and recorded ambient vibrations when there were no tourists inside the pyramid. “In the field of heritage conservation, this information can provide important insights into structural stability, hidden vulnerabilities, and long-term conservation strategies with full respect for the integrity of the monument,” Salama explained.

The design of the Great Pyramid included many rooms and corridors.

(Image credit: Asim Salama et al./Scientific Reports)

The team found that the vibrations were remarkably similar throughout the pyramid, ranging from about 2.0 to 2.6 Hz. This was very different from the frequencies found on nearby Earth, which were typically around 0.6 Hz. This gap in frequencies means that during earthquakes, the pyramid is away from vibrations traveling through the ground, which may contribute to its resilience, the researchers reported Thursday (May 21) in the journal Scientific Reports.

An archaeologist takes measurements inside the relief chambers of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. The inscription on the left side commemorates the discovery of the upper four chambers by Western archaeologists in 1837.

(Image credit: Asim Salama et al./Scientific Reports)

Salama said other features that contribute to the pyramid’s stability include its massive base, strong limestone foundation, and symmetrical geometry. Vibrations increase toward the top of the structure, which is typical of most buildings (imagine a skyscraper built to impact in an earthquake), but this pattern is interrupted by decompression chambers located about 200 feet (61 m) inside the pyramid. These rooms are located above the King’s Chamber and are believed to have been built to relieve some of the burden on the pharaoh’s final resting place. It has also been shown to dampen vibrations that may be transmitted towards the top of the structure.

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Archaeologists are taking measurements in the corridor coming from the entrance of Caliph al-Ma’mun (also known as the Tunnel of Thieves).

(Image credit: Asim Salama and others)

The researchers plan to conduct more measurements at the Great Pyramid, and hope to use similar methods at other important Egyptian archaeological sites. It’s likely that some of the same features of the pyramidal shape help protect the other pyramids at Giza, but each structure was likely unique, as ancient Egyptian architects developed their styles over time, Salama said.

“Previous pyramids show evidence of experimentation and structural evolution, including changes in slope geometry and internal layouts,” he said.

Are you a fan of mummies and hieroglyphs? Find out with our Ancient Egypt Quiz!

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