Scientists may have uncovered the mystery behind how the ancient Egyptians transported the gigantic stone blocks that were required for the construction of famous pyramids after they unearthed a long-buried branch of the Nile river that in the past flowed alongside over 30 of these well-known structures.

The river branch, approximately 64 kilometres long, ran by the famous Giza pyramid complex among other wonders.

It was concealed under desert and farmland for millennia, said the study that unveiled the discovery on Thursday (May 16).

The presence of the river would unveil the mystery behind how the 31 pyramids were constructed in line alongside a now barren desert strip in the Nile Valley between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago.

The strip in the vicinity of the Egyptian capital of Memphis comprises the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the only structure remaining out of the seven wonders of the ancient world, along with the Khafre, Cheops and Mykerinos pyramids.

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The researchers had earlier thought that the ancient Egyptians would have made use of a waterway close by to transport the enormous materials that were used to construct the pyramids.

"But nobody was certain of the location, the shape, the size or proximity of this mega waterway to the actual pyramids site," news agency AFP quoted lead study author Eman Ghoneim of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the United States as saying.

The international team of researchers dubbed the river branch Ahramat, called "pyramids" in Arabic, and&nbsp;made use of radar satellite imagery in order to map it.

Radar gave them the "unique ability to penetrate the sand surface and produce images of hidden features including buried rivers and ancient structures," Ghoneim said.

A study conducted on the field and cores of sediment obtained from the site confirmed the presence of the river, as per the study in the journal Communications Earth &amp; Environment.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists may have uncovered the mystery behind how the ancient Egyptians transported the gigantic stone blocks that were required for the construction of famous pyramids after they unearthed a long-buried branch of the Nile river that in the past flowed alongside over 30 of these well-known structures.

Scientists may have uncovered the mystery behind how the ancient Egyptians transported the gigantic stone blocks that were required for the construction of famous pyramids after they unearthed a long-buried branch of the Nile river that in the past flowed alongside over 30 of these well-known structures. The river branch, approximately 64 kilometres long, ran by the famous Giza pyramid complex among other wonders. It was concealed under desert and farmland for millennia, said the study that unveiled the discovery on Thursday (May 16). The presence of the river would unveil the mystery behind how the 31 pyramids were constructed in line alongside a now barren desert strip in the Nile Valley between 4,700 and 3,700 years ago. The strip in the vicinity of the Egyptian capital of Memphis comprises the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the only structure remaining out of the seven wonders of the ancient world, along with the Khafre, Cheops and Mykerinos pyramids. Also read: Caught in action: Newly found fossil shows 155 million old brittle star mid-regeneration The researchers had earlier thought that the ancient Egyptians would have made use of a waterway close by to transport the enormous materials that were used to construct the pyramids. "But nobody was certain of the location, the shape, the size or proximity of this mega waterway to the actual pyramids site," news agency AFP quoted lead study author Eman Ghoneim of the University of North Carolina Wilmington in the United States as saying. The international team of researchers dubbed the river branch Ahramat, called "pyramids" in Arabic, and made use of radar satellite imagery in order to map it. Radar gave them the "unique ability to penetrate the sand surface and produce images of hidden features including buried rivers and ancient structures," Ghoneim said. A study conducted on the field and cores of sediment obtained from the site confirmed the presence of the river, as per the study in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. (With inputs from agencies)

Long-lost Nile river branch extremely crucial in construction of Egyptian Pyramids, reveals study

Egpyt has scrapped the plan to restore the cladding on one of three great pyramids of Giza, said a committee formed by the country's tourism minister in a statement on Saturday (Feb 17).

The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, had made the announcement of the Menkaure pyramid's renovation in the month of January, dubbing it "the project of the century".

The renovation work, which was aimed at restoring the structure's authentic style by revamping the granite layer, triggered a severe backlash.

This further prompted Egypt's antiquities ministry to review the project and set up a committee to do so.

The ministry had then made an announcement saying that it set up a "scientific committee chaired by... Zahi Hawass", a renowned Egyptian archaeologist, to review the project.

The committee it said comprised "experts in engineering and archaeology" from the Czech Republic, Germany and the United States, as well as Egypt.

The committee's final report will include "the necessary procedures and steps to coordinate with (the UN heritage agency) UNESCO".

"A decision will be made on whether to proceed with the project or not," it had earlier said.

At the time the pyramid was built, it was sheathed in granite. However, with the passage of time, pilfering and weathering led to the depletion of its many layers, leaving only seven of them in modern times.

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Waziri had said that the project to replace the granite would proceed only after a year of scanning and documentation.

<h2>What did the reviewing committee say?</h2>

The reviewing committee on Thursday said that it has unanimously come to a decision to not go ahead with the restoration plan stating that it would ruin the structure.

"The Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee has unanimously objected to the reinstallation of the granite casing blocks, scattered around the base of the pyramid since thousands of years ago," the committee said in a statement on Thursday.

The head of the committee Hawass, said that it would be impossible to figure out the original placement of each block. Replacing them would also require cement, which would ruin the pyramid.

"What I want to say is don't worry, the pyramids of Giza are safe, and nothing will happen to them," Hawass told news agency Reuters. "People everywhere are calling me, writing letters, emails. They are worried. Don't be worried at all, the pyramids are safe, and no one can touch the pyramid of Menkaure."

The seven-member committee had initially given the consent to unearth Menkaure pyramid's boat pits, alike the Pharaonic bark pits discovered alongside Khufu's pyramid adjoining Menkaure's, but only after a "clear and detailed scientific study".

"In archaeology, don't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will ruin the site," Hawass said. "It is important for any kind of work to be done at the site of the pyramids, is to make a study and to tell us what to do."

(With inputs from agencies)

Egpyt has scrapped the plan to restore the cladding on one of three great pyramids of Giza, said a committee formed by the country's tourism minister in a statement on Saturday (Feb 17).

Egpyt has scrapped the plan to restore the cladding on one of three great pyramids of Giza, said a committee formed by the country's tourism minister in a statement on Saturday (Feb 17). The head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, had made the announcement of the Menkaure pyramid's renovation in the month of January, dubbing it "the project of the century". The renovation work, which was aimed at restoring the structure's authentic style by revamping the granite layer, triggered a severe backlash. This further prompted Egypt's antiquities ministry to review the project and set up a committee to do so. The ministry had then made an announcement saying that it set up a "scientific committee chaired by... Zahi Hawass", a renowned Egyptian archaeologist, to review the project. The committee it said comprised "experts in engineering and archaeology" from the Czech Republic, Germany and the United States, as well as Egypt. The committee's final report will include "the necessary procedures and steps to coordinate with (the UN heritage agency) UNESCO". "A decision will be made on whether to proceed with the project or not," it had earlier said. At the time the pyramid was built, it was sheathed in granite. However, with the passage of time, pilfering and weathering led to the depletion of its many layers, leaving only seven of them in modern times. Also read: Ukraine’s battle to repel Russian forces held back by...: Zelensky addresses Munich Security Conference Waziri had said that the project to replace the granite would proceed only after a year of scanning and documentation. What did the reviewing committee say? The reviewing committee on Thursday said that it has unanimously come to a decision to not go ahead with the restoration plan stating that it would ruin the structure. "The Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee has unanimously objected to the reinstallation of the granite casing blocks, scattered around the base of the pyramid since thousands of years ago," the committee said in a statement on Thursday. The head of the committee Hawass, said that it would be impossible to figure out the original placement of each block. Replacing them would also require cement, which would ruin the pyramid. "What I want to say is don't worry, the pyramids of Giza are safe, and nothing will happen to them," Hawass told news agency Reuters. "People everywhere are calling me, writing letters, emails. They are worried. Don't be worried at all, the pyramids are safe, and no one can touch the pyramid of Menkaure." The seven-member committee had initially given the consent to unearth Menkaure pyramid's boat pits, alike the Pharaonic bark pits discovered alongside Khufu's pyramid adjoining Menkaure's, but only after a "clear and detailed scientific study". "In archaeology, don't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will ruin the site," Hawass said. "It is important for any kind of work to be done at the site of the pyramids, is to make a study and to tell us what to do." (With inputs from agencies)

Egypt scraps pyramid renovation plan after international outcry

In pics: Contemporary artists showcase incredible installations at Great Pyramid of Giza

An&nbsp;asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike&nbsp;sometime early in 2021,&nbsp;according to a&nbsp;prediction made by&nbsp;French astrologer Nostradamus.

The&nbsp;monstrous asteroid called 2021 CO247, which is 0.83 times the height of the Eiffel Tower will fly past the Earth at 7.4 million kilometers.

Earlier,&nbsp;a gigantic 220-meter asteroid or about as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge is tall, at 6.9 million kilometers flew past the Earth on January 3.

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NASA scientists say an asteroid called 2021 AC, which is twice the size of&nbsp;the Great Pyramid of Giza, is set to hit the&nbsp;Earth's orbit on Wednesday. It will zoom by a distance of 3.5 kilometers.

Keeping up with the trend, in the first days of January, three additional, small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) will grace the Earth with their presence.&nbsp;

The 15-metre asteroid 2019 YB4 will fly by at a safe distance of 6.4 million kilometres. It will be followed up by two more chunks of cosmic debris in the form of the 15-meter 2020 YA1 and the 21-meter 2020 YP4, which will pass by at 1.5 and 2.1 million kilometers respectively, the next day.

NASA had said that similarly sized asteroids pass by Earth at a similar distance a few times per year, however, they are&nbsp;difficult to record, unless they&nbsp;head&nbsp;directly towards the planet, in which case the explosion in the atmosphere is usually noticed.

World-famous astrologer Nostradamus has made 6,338 predictions out of which 3797 prophecies have apparently proved correct. 
 
Michel de Nostredame, usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, physician and reputed seer, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events.

An asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike sometime early in 2021, according to a prediction made by French astrologer Nostradamus.

An asteroid as big as the Eiffel Tower is en route the Earth and is predicted to strike sometime early in 2021, according to a prediction made by French astrologer Nostradamus. The monstrous asteroid called 2021 CO247, which is 0.83 times the height of the Eiffel Tower will fly past the Earth at 7.4 million kilometers. Earlier, a gigantic 220-meter asteroid or about as wide as the Golden Gate Bridge is tall, at 6.9 million kilometers flew past the Earth on January 3. Also read: A huge asteroid and three small NEOs will shoot past Earth in early Jan, NASA warns NASA scientists say an asteroid called 2021 AC, which is twice the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza, is set to hit the Earth's orbit on Wednesday. It will zoom by a distance of 3.5 kilometers. Keeping up with the trend, in the first days of January, three additional, small Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) will grace the Earth with their presence. The 15-metre asteroid 2019 YB4 will fly by at a safe distance of 6.4 million kilometres. It will be followed up by two more chunks of cosmic debris in the form of the 15-meter 2020 YA1 and the 21-meter 2020 YP4, which will pass by at 1.5 and 2.1 million kilometers respectively, the next day. NASA had said that similarly sized asteroids pass by Earth at a similar distance a few times per year, however, they are difficult to record, unless they head directly towards the planet, in which case the explosion in the atmosphere is usually noticed. World-famous astrologer Nostradamus has made 6,338 predictions out of which 3797 prophecies have apparently proved correct. Michel de Nostredame, usually Latinised as Nostradamus, was a French astrologer, physician and reputed seer, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties, a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events.

Asteroid as big as Eiffel Tower is approaching Earth

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Long-lost Nile river branch extremely crucial in construction of Egyptian Pyramids, reveals study

Egypt scraps pyramid renovation plan after international outcry

In pics: Contemporary artists showcase incredible installations at Great Pyramid of Giza

Asteroid as big as Eiffel Tower is approaching Earth