The belief is widespread that the only miracle of the world preserved to this day was built thousands of bonded workers. We checked whether this point of view of the position of modern historians and archaeologists corresponds.

The allegations that the famous Egyptian pyramids were erected thanks to slave work, you can often find, for example, in Soviet research And textbooks. The authors of such texts, obviously, followed the Marxist logic about the gradual transition from slave labor to a classless society. However, the idea of the slaves involved in the construction of the pharaoh tombs became popular thanks to numerous feature films, the action of which takes place in Egypt.

Traditionally, slaves at the construction site of the pyramids speak with reference to Greek authors, in particular Herodotus. The Father of History lived more than 2000 years later, so he wrote about the miracle of the light, based on local legends and conversations with the Egyptian contemporaries. Nevertheless, in his work "History" when describing the construction is nothing It is not said It is about slaves, although the author really describes the work of workers as incredibly complex. Dorothy Recyg, editor of the scientific journal Biblical Archaeological Review, He thinksthat the roots of the story about slaves can be searched in the Old Testament, which speaks of the enslavement of the Jews by the Egyptians, although these two events are shared for several centuries.

Back in 1990, not far from the pyramids by chance discovered Ancient mass burial. Archaeologists who worked for several years studied both the remains themselves and the objects that were in the tomb. Later were Open Similar burials that allowed us to talk about entire "working villages" around the Pyramid complex. In total, experts investigated Several hundreds of burials, where workers themselves, members of their families, artisans and controllers rested.

Zahi Havass spoke about the results of excavations and followed research several times. This Egyptian archaeologist worked for many years in Giza and even Headed The local museum complex, then headed the High Council of Antiquities of Egypt, and in 2009-2011 he held the post of Deputy Minister of Culture. Another specialist involved in this topic is American Mark Lechner, who has been several decades for several decades Heads The Giza plateau project, and also works at the University of Chicago and the Capitoli Archaeological Institute of the University of George Washington. In 2017, researchers released Joint book "Giza and Pyramids".

Why do archaeologists believe that they found the remains of the builders? One of the excavations managers Adele Okash said that when analyzing the bones, they discovered Signs of arthritis and characteristic changes in the lower vertebrae - this suggests that the dead were engaged in the work associated with the movement of heavy cargoes. Moreover, in the tomb, tools were found that were used in the construction of the pyramids.

So, what arguments do Havass and Lehner cite in support that the builders of the pyramids were not slaves, but by hired workers?

The tombs are in the immediate vicinity of the pyramids, where the pharaohs rested.
The tombs are decorated with sculptures depicting the workers themselves.
On the walls of the tombs there are inscriptions that tell about the menu of the builders: it included beer, bread and meat of different varieties.
Although the bodies of workers were not mummified, the analysis confirms their ethnic kinship with Egyptian pharaohs, buried at the same time.
The workers were buried in accordance with the instructions of the Egyptian religion of that time.
Units from among the workers died as a result of accidents that occurred during construction.

Deter Wildung, former director of the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, He emphasizesthat for the discovery of Havass and Lechner, the discovery of Havass and Lechner did not become news: "In serious Egyptology, this is a common truth." However, the study of the tombs where the builders of the pyramids are buried became very important evidence, which makes it possible to talk about this based on material sources. “The world simply could not believe that the pyramids were built without oppression and forced labor, but thanks to the loyalty of ordinary people to pharaohs,” the German researcher sums up.