Saqqara study reinterprets ancient structure

A study published in August 2024 in the journal PLOS ONE suggests that the structure known as Gisr el-Mudir in Saqqara, Egypt, may not be what archaeologists previously thought. The research proposes that it could have been a dam that created a lake near the stepped pyramid of Djoser, challenging long-held views about its purpose.

Structure described as a dam

The study, led by Xavier Landreau from the Paleotechnic institute in collaboration with INRAE and the University of Orléans, describes Gisr el-Mudir as a rectangular enclosure measuring about 650 meters by 350 meters. The researchers suggest it could have functioned as a dam nearly 2 kilometers long and 15 meters thick, constructed with two limestone walls filled with crushed stones, gravel, and sand.

Water system linked to the pyramid

According to the researchers, the dam may have retained rainwater and runoff, forming a temporary lake west of the funerary complex. They propose that water from this lake could have flowed into the Dry Moat, a trench surrounding the pyramid of Djoser, which they believe may have been part of a filtration system with multiple components.

New interpretation of underground chambers

At the bottom of the north and south wells of the pyramid are two granite chests, traditionally thought to be tombs for Djoser. The study suggests these might have been part of an inlet and outlet system for water, not tombs. The researchers propose that these chambers could have been part of a hydraulic elevator system that used a central well with a float to lift stone blocks.

Scholars question the findings

Some archaeologists have raised concerns about the study's conclusions. Julia Budka from the Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich points out that no Egyptologists or archaeologists were involved in the research, despite the significant challenge to the traditional understanding of the pyramid's function. Others question the practicality and historical accuracy of the proposed water system.