Perhaps the measurements by which the Egyptian "named"
their years in the early dynastic period were actually
the lowest the Nile went as measured at a specific spot
near sea level.

This would be critical to their well being since a cess-
ation of flow would mean less water and much more lifting
for irrigation and stagnant water would be a breeding ground
for annoying or highly destructive insects.

This isn't to say that I've given up my theory again, merely
pointing out another possibility.

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Man fears the pyramid, time fears man.