The Great Pyramid of Giza was built by paid laborers, not slaves.

The long-standing myth of slave labor at Giza was largely debunked in 1990 when a tourist discovered the tombs of pyramid builders. Excavations led by Dr. Zahi Hawass and Dr. Mark Lehner revealed that these workers were buried in mud-brick tombs within the shadow of the pyramids. This prestigious burial location would never have been granted to slaves, as it was reserved for those serving the Pharaoh with honor.Archaeological evidence at the 'Lost City of the Pyramid Builders' shows that workers were fed remarkably well. Analysis of animal bone remains indicates that laborers consumed high-quality beef, sheep, and goat meat daily. This protein-rich diet was significantly better than that of the average Egyptian villager at the time, suggesting the state invested heavily in their health and strength.Furthermore, skeletal remains show that workers received advanced medical treatments, including successful brain surgery and expertly set bone fractures. These laborers worked in rotating shifts under a system of national service, likely during the Nile's annual flooding when farming was impossible. The sheer scale of the logistics suggests a highly organized workforce of roughly 20,000 to 30,000 people who viewed the project as a matter of religious and national duty.