Final answer:
The large pyramids of the Old Kingdom were likely built by skilled artisans and a substantial workforce, using advanced tools and techniques such as ropes pulleys and ramps.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ancient sources and modern analyses suggest that the large pyramids of the Old Kingdom were built by a combination of skilled artisan involvement with advanced tools and the use of a substantial workforce. While there is evidence that the workers were not enslaved and likely enjoyed a higher standard of living than many other Egyptians at the time, there were also permanent groups of skilled craftsmen supplemented by seasonal crews of conscripted peasants.