{
  "abstract": "This study presents, for the first time, evidence of two ancient, giant dams built across Wadi Dahshur, Egypt, along with a water diversion channel west of the Red Pyramid (ca. 4.55-4.53 ka BP). Satellite imagery and watershed mapping show that the two long structures, previously interpreted as stone transport ramps, exhibit the technical signature of dams, each extending 600-700 m and anchored to the valley flanks. The eastern structure likely served as the main water-retention dam, whereas the western structure, equipped with a duckbill weir, may have acted as a check dam, trapping sediment and regulating flow into the diversion channel. Hydrological analyses suggest that Wadi Dahshur connects to western tributaries of Wadi Taflah, potentially granting access to a ~100 km² catchment, possibly ~400 km². The dam's proximity to the Red Pyramid and the nearby diversion canal point to a possible use of water resources during its construction.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Xavier Landreau"
    },
    {
      "name": "Guillaume Piton"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sayed Hemeda"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/629ef74snnyzc.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s40494-026-02833-9",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "629ef74snnyzc",
  "issns": [
    "3059-3220"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05737215v1",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "hal",
      "0.phys"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sde"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "0.sdu"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "0.spi"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.phys.phys"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sde.ie"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.sdu.stu"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "1.spi.gciv"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.phys.phys.phys-geo-ph"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdu.stu.gm"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.sdu.stu.hy"
    ],
    [
      "hal",
      "2.spi.gciv.ch"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1105|Water management and technologies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7169786945",
  "pdf_url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05737215/document",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-07-20",
  "publisher": "Springer Nature",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/629ef74snnyzc.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:27Z",
      "native_id": "hal-05737215",
      "source": "hal",
      "url": "https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05737215v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:0.sde",
      "subfield": "environmental-science"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:2.sdu.stu.gm",
      "subfield": "geology-geochemistry"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:2.phys.phys.phys-geo-ph",
      "subfield": "geophysics"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "hal:2.sdu.stu.hy",
      "subfield": "hydrology-soils"
    },
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "hal:0.phys",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Two possible ancient dams near the Red Pyramid on the Dahshur Plateau, Egypt",
  "title_text": "Two possible ancient dams near the Red Pyramid on the Dahshur Plateau, Egypt",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:27Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/629ef74snnyzc",
  "venue": "npj Heritage Science",
  "versions": []
}