people once thought pyramids were built by slaves. more recent evidence suggests that the workers who built the pyramids were paid and well-cared for. they were loyal to the pharaoh. inside the great pyramid, famous man-made objects have been found from ancient times. many valuable items were buried with the dead pharaohs, in the hope that they would take them to the afterlife. pyramids usually had traps to stop thieves from escaping easily. tomb thieves were punished by death if they were caught. however, by 1000 bc, many of the pyramids had been robbed of their precious treasures.