Secret Nile branch confirmed by Egypt-led research

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

Geomorphologists have confirmed, for the first time, the route of a long-extinct ‘branch’ of the Nile River that brought the famous river to the base of its equally renowned pyramids. Today, Egypt’s pyramids are surrounded by sand and situated kilometres from the river’s banks, but it would have been a very different story when they were first built thousands of years ago. Past investigations had found evidence suggesting a branch of the Nile likely swept past the pyramids, but through the use of radar, soil excavations, geophysical surveys and historic maps, a team of researchers led by Egyptian-American geomorphologist Eman Ghoneim from the University of North Carolina Wilmington have connected the dots to confirm a likely route. The result is a map of a winding offshoot of the Nile running along the western banks of the modern river published today in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.

Period17 May 2024

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • TitleSecret Nile branch confirmed by Egypt-led research
    Media name/outletCosmos Magazine
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date17/05/24
    DescriptionGeomorphologists have confirmed, for the first time, the route of a long-extinct ‘branch’ of the Nile River that brought the famous river to the base of its equally renowned pyramids. Today, Egypt’s pyramids are surrounded by sand and situated kilometres from the river’s banks, but it would have been a very different story when they were first built thousands of years ago. Past investigations had found evidence suggesting a branch of the Nile likely swept past the pyramids, but through the use of radar, soil excavations, geophysical surveys and historic maps, a team of researchers led by Egyptian-American geomorphologist Eman Ghoneim from the University of North Carolina Wilmington have connected the dots to confirm a likely route. The result is a map of a winding offshoot of the Nile running along the western banks of the modern river published today in the journal Communications Earth & Environment.
    URLhttps://cosmosmagazine.com/history/archaeology/secret-nile-branch-confirmed-by-egypt-led-research/
    PersonsTim Ralph