of the major pyramids mentioned here. Each pyramid is identified through the pharaoh who ordered it built, his approximate reign, and its location. Construction techniques Constructing the pyramids involved moving huge quantities of stone. While most blocks came from nearby quarries, special stones were transported on great barges from distant locations, for instance white limestone from Tura and granite from Aswan. In 2013, papyri, named Diary of Merer, were discovered at an ancient Egyptian harbor at the Red Sea coast. They are logbooks written over 4,500 years ago by an official with the title inspector, who documented the transport of white limestone from the Tura quarries, along the Nile River, to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the tomb of the Pharaoh Khufu. It is possible that quarried blocks were then transported to the construction site by wooden sleds, with sand in front of the sled wetted to reduce friction. Droplets of water created bridges between the grains of sand, helping them stick together. Workers cut the stones close to the construction site, as indicated by the numerous finds of cutting tools. The finished blocks were placed on the pre-prepared foundations. The foundations were levelled using a rough square level, water trenches and experienced surveyors. See also List of Egyptian pyramids List of finds in Egyptian pyramids List of megalithic sites Pyramidion Nubian pyramids References Bibliography Edwards, I. E. S., The Pyramids of Egypt Penguin Books Ltd; New edition (1991), Mendelssohn, Kurt, The Riddle of the Pyramids, Thames & Hudson Ltd (1974), External links Ancient Egyptians from BBC History Pyramids World Heritage Site in panographies – 360-degree interactive imaging The Pyramids of Egypt – The meaning and construction of the Egyptian pyramids by Egyptologist Professor Nabil Swelim. Ancient AuthorsA site that quotes descriptions of the "Labyrinth" of Amenemhet III's pyramid at el-Lahun by various ancient authors. Ancient Egypt – History & ChronologyA site detailing the major pyramid sites of ancient Egypt and Nubia (Sudan). Scientific American, "How the Pyramids were Built", 25 September 1880, p. 201 Ancient Egyptian architecture