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How did the ancient Egyptians transport obelisks hundreds of miles from granite quarries in the south to the capital in Thebes and even farther north to Memphis and Heliopolis? There is evidence that they might have used river boats on the Nile. Owain Roberts, an expert in reconstructing ancient vessels, works to weave together wood, rope, and reeds to demonstrate how ancient boats were built. Modern-day Egyptians pull a two-ton obelisk onto a model barge. This kind of wide boat is the type that Roberts thinks the ancient Egyptians may have used. The loading goes smoothly, and the boat sails off on the Nile. Previous Next How Big Were They? | Cutting Granite with Sand | NOVA Raises an Obelisk Lever an Obelisk | Explore Ancient Egypt | Mysteries of the Nile | Resources | Transcript Medieval Siege | Pharaoh's Obelisk | Easter Island | Roman Bath | China Bridge | Site Map Editor's Picks | Previous Sites | Join Us/E-mail | TV/Web Schedule About NOVA | Teachers | Site Map | Shop | Jobs | Search | To print PBS Online | NOVA Online | WGBH © | Updated November 2000 |