The oldest paved road in the world is generally considered to be the Lake Moeris Quarry Road in Egypt, which dates back over 4,600 years to approximately 2600–2100 BCE. This ancient 12-kilometer (7.5-mile) route was constructed using massive slabs of sandstone and limestone to transport heavy basalt blocks from the quarries in the desert to the Nile, where they were then shipped to be used in the construction of the Great Pyramids and other monuments. While many ancient civilizations like the Sumerians and the Minoans had paths, this Egyptian road is significant because it was intentionally engineered with a stone surface to handle the weight of heavy sledges. Another contender for the title of "oldest road" is the Sweet Track in Somerset, England, a wooden causeway built in 3807 BCE, but it is a raised boardwalk rather than a paved road. In terms of long-distance trade routes, the Royal Road of the Persian Empire and the Silk Road are more famous, but the Lake Moeris Quarry Road remains the world's earliest example of a sophisticated, durable paved surface designed for industrial-scale logistics and heavy transport in the ancient world.