The Egyptian pyramids were built using a combination of skilled labor, engineering techniques, and organized logistics over many years. The most widely accepted method involves the use of large ramps made of brick, earth, and sand that encircled the pyramid and increased in height as the structure rose. Stone blocks were hauled up these ramps using sledges, rollers, ropes, and levers. Workers likely greased the ramps with water or wet clay to reduce friction and facilitate movement of the heavy stones

. The stones themselves were quarried locally or transported from distant quarries, such as granite from Aswan and higher-quality limestone from Tura. Copper chisels and abrasive sand were used to carve the blocks, while large teams of workers pulled the stones on wooden sledges over prepared tracks. The wood for sledges and tracks was often imported due to scarcity in Egypt

. The workforce was composed of skilled Egyptian laborers who lived in nearby temporary cities with support personnel such as bakers, physicians, and priests. Contrary to popular myth, the pyramids were not built by slaves but by a well-organized labor force, possibly numbering around 20,000 workers, who worked primarily during the Nile flood season when agricultural work was minimal

. Some theories propose additional techniques like internal ramps, levers, cranes, pulleys, or even hydraulic lift systems, but the external ramp system remains the most plausible and supported by archaeological evidence

. In summary, the pyramid construction combined:

• Quarrying and shaping large stone blocks with copper tools and abrasives
• Transporting stones via the Nile and over land using sledges on lubricated ramps
• Employing a large, skilled workforce living nearby with strong central organization
• Using ramps, levers, rollers, and possibly cranes to position stones precisely

This method allowed the Egyptians to build the massive and enduring pyramids over decades, such as the Great Pyramid of Giza, which took about 20 years to complete