text: The Egyptian pyramids were built using an enormous labour force - ordinary citizens served for a few months of each year to work as well as full time craftsmen who worked to build the monuments.  Typically, a king began construction of his pyramid complex soon after ascending the throne and construction continued until his death.\nThe earliest pyramids were solid stone structures.  After a sight was selected and prepared, the foundation was laid with large blocks being dragged in on sledges - a sort of sled-like vehicle.  As the pyramid rose, a ramp was used to move blocks into place higher up the structure.  Frequently, local stone was used for the interior blocks of the pyramid and finer stone was brought from special sources for the exterior casing of the pyramid.\nIn later pyramids, the core was frequently not of solid stone but of rubble or mudbrick with an outer facing of nicer stone.  Eventually pyramids were constructed primarily of mudbrick rather than stone.