Reconstructing the ancient waterscape near the Meidum Pyramid complex in Egypt

The location of the Meidum Pyramid on the Western Desert Plateau of Egypt, distant from the Nile River, suggests the presence of a nearby ancient river that was used as a logistical route for transporting construction materials and personnel to the site. Radar satellite data led to the discovery of two buried river courses bordering the pyramid structure. The termination of the pyramid’s causeway exactly at the bank of the eastern river course implies that this ancient channel was active concurrently at the time of the pyramid’s construction. Furthermore, given that the plateau, where the pyramid lies, is encircled by the two river channels, it is likely that this plateau was formerly an unstable river island that did not favor heavy structures. This study offers a potential explanation as to why the pyramid structure has partially collapsed and the site was abandoned.