The construction of the ancient Egyptian pyramids, while rooted in scientific facts, still sparks debate regarding specific techniques and the workforce involved. Early methods likely evolved over time, relying on copper tools to quarry massive stones which were then dragged and lifted into position. Ancient historians offered varying accounts: Herodotus (5th century BC) described a machine for lifting, while Diodorus Siculus (1st century BC) suggested earthen ramps, noting the mysterious disappearance of any traces. Modern archaeology largely refutes the long-held notion of slave labor, with discoveries like worker cemeteries in 1990 indicating that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built by tens of thousands of skilled laborers, some paid and others fulfilling tax obligations, with evidence of foreign workers like Canaanites for later pyramids. Pseudoscientific theories, known as pyramidology, also attempt to explain these monumental achievements.