A study published on May 16, 2024, in the journal Communications Earth & Environment suggests that a 64 km branch of the Nile may have influenced the placement of 31 Egyptian pyramids, including those at Giza. The research, conducted by a team including Eman Ghoneim from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, proposes this as a strong hypothesis, not an established fact. The pyramids, ranging from the Old Kingdom to the Second Intermediate Period (2686 to 1649 BCE), are concentrated in a narrow strip of desert between Giza and Lisht, which the researchers highlight in their introduction. The team used satellite imagery, radar, geophysical surveys, and core samples to confirm the presence of fluvial sediments and ancient channels beneath the current surface. The channel, named "Ahramat" in Arabic, meaning "pyramids," is estimated to be 64 km long and 200 to 700 meters wide. The study notes a sudden transition from well-sorted medium sands at depth to finer materials above, indicating the presence of ancient riverbeds. The researchers suggest that roads leading to valley temples, which may have functioned as river ports, support the hypothesis that the branch served as a transport route for workers and materials to the pyramid sites. The study also produces the first map of the paleohydrological environment of the Lisht-Giza region, indicating that the branch was active during the construction of the pyramids. The disappearance of the branch is attributed to factors such as sand accumulation from wind, a major drought beginning around 4,200 years ago, tectonic activity, and decreased river flow due to increasing aridity. However, the role of the branch in the choice of pyramid locations remains a strong hypothesis, not a proven certainty. The study does not measure the weight of other factors, such as the sun's orientation or the nature of the rock, which were not tested in this research. The findings could help locate ancient settlements and protect them from rapid urbanization, benefiting the preservation of Egypt's heritage. Future excavations may determine whether ancient ports of Giza and Lisht indeed lie beneath the cultivated fields of the valley.