Considered one of the seven wonders of the world, Egypt’s pyramids have attracted tourists, awe and a fair amount of conspiracy theories as to how the massive structures were built.



Now, researchers from the University of Amsterdam believe they’ve discovered ancient Egyptians’ strategy for transporting blocks of stone across the Valley of the Kings in around 2,000 B.C.: wet sand.



Dutch researchers are concluding that the Egyptians placed heavy objects on a sledge, pulled by hundreds of workers, and simply poured water on the sand in front, CBS News reported on Thursday.



Physicists at the university found out that dampening the sand in front of the transporting device reduces friction on the sled, making it easier to operate and reducing the number of workers needed.



Researchers picked up on clues left behind by the ancient Egyptians themselves; a wall painting discovered in the ancient tomb of Djehutihotep, which dates back to about 1900 B.C., depicts 172 men hauling a large statue using ropes attached to a sledge. A person can be seen standing on the front of the sledge, pouring liquid over the sand, said study lead author Daniel Bonn, a physics professor at the University of Amsterdam, according to LiveScience.com.



The researchers published their findings this week in the journal Physical Review Letters.



Many people believe that the pyramids are a link to an ancient lost civilization, and may still contain evidence to prove it. Many conspiracy theories regarding secret chambers and passageways within the pyramids exist to this day.



These conspiracy theories became even more widespread in 1993, when Dr. Zahi Hawass announced that the Great Pyramid of Khufu was to be closed to the public for a year. The reason given for the closure was to facilitate cleaning, conservation and restoration of the interior chambers in the Great Pyramid.



However, conspiracy theorists believe that the Egyptian authorities had uncovered evidence of a lost civilization in the pyramid, and were secretly excavating it to reveal more information.



In February, archeologists discovered a 4,600-year-old step pyramid which predates the Great Pyramid of Giza by several decades.



The pyramid, in the ancient settlement of Edfu, was built from sandstone blocks and clay mortar and stands at 16 feet high with the original structure being closer to 40 feet high, say archeologists.



Known as a step pyramid, these structures were not used for royal burial and contain no inner chamber as the famous Giza pyramid. They are similar in design to the famous step pyramid built by Pharaoh Djoser (2670-2640 B.C.)  — Al Arabiya News