Giza Road is the world’s oldest known paved road
The Giza Road, also known as the "Processional Way," is indeed considered one of the oldest known paved roads in the world. Located on the west bank of the Nile, southwest of central Cairo, at over 4,600 years old, it was used to transport the enormous blocks of basalt for building from the quarries to a lake adjoining the Nile.
Constructed during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, around 2600 BC, the Giza Road served as a ceremonial pathway for processions during important religious and royal events. It provided a grand entrance to the sacred site of the Giza Pyramids and the Sphinx.
The world's oldest paved road was six and a half feet wide and covered a distance of seven and a half miles – connecting the quarries to the Southwest of Cairo, to the quay on Lake Moeris which connected to the Nile. Apart from some construction ramps associated with the pyramids, the geologists said, there are no other paved roads known from ancient Egypt.
In the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, demand for building stones for pyramids and temples led to the opening of many quarries in the low cliffs near the Nile River. The road was used to transport the enormous blocks of basalt from one of these quarries to Giza where they were used for building (especially for paving).
Today, while much of the road's original structure has eroded or been covered by sand, archaeologists have uncovered significant portions of it, providing valuable insights into ancient Egyptian culture and engineering achievements. The Giza Road stands as a testament to the remarkable ingenuity and craftsmanship of the ancient Egyptians.
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