Japan Built a Tiny Pyramid in Egypt

In 1978 an engineering project led by Japanese archaeologist Sakuji Yoshimura and sponsored by Nippon Television set out to test whether a small pyramid could realistically be constructed using techniques commonly attributed to the ancient Egyptians.

The team planned to build a scaled-down replica of the Great Pyramid—roughly 20 meters (65 feet) tall—using limestone blocks, wooden sledges, ropes, ramps, and large teams of workers.

The experiment encountered numerous practical problems. Local limestone prices reportedly rose dramatically after suppliers learned about the project while The desert sand proved unstable, forcing them to build a much stronger foundation than expected.

Some of the larger blocks proved far more difficult to move than anticipated and Wooden rollers reportedly performed poorly in loose sand.

Some hauling attempts had to be abandoned because the manpower required exceeded expectations. At various points, forklifts, cranes, and other modern equipment were used simply to keep the project moving.

1978 NY Times Article:

https://www.nytimes.com/1978/03/08/archives/japanese-pyramid-rises-in-egypt-a-doityourself-pyramid-a-new.html

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