Engineering the Pyramids

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Sutton, 2004 - History - 180 pages
In Engineering the Pyramids, author Dick Parry - a civil engineer - assesses the design of the pyramids and the likely methods of quarrying, transporting and raising the stones. Basing his ideas on both the archaeological record and the basic principles of engineering - as well as the results from a series of model and full-scale tests - Dr. Parry provides a challenging answer to this mystery of the pyramids. He suggests that ramps were used and the huge stones were transported and raised by rolling them, rather than using highly inefficient sledges beloved of Egyptologists.

Engineering the Pyramids provides a rich and accessible account of the design history of the pyramids, the techniques and organisation needed to bring about these heroic feats of effort and engineering and fascinating insights into the reasons behind the pyramid design.

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About the author (2004)

Dr R.H.G. Parry is an emeritus fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was involved in research and teaching in civil engineering. He was General Secretary of the International Society for soil mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering from 1891 to 1999 and has a special interest in the history of civil engineering, on which he lectures worldwide.

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