The pyramid's condition created the opportunity for a detailed examination of construction methodology employed by pyramid builders in the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties.
In particular, the Czech team were able to test Lepsius' and Borchardt's accretion layer hypothesis – the method used in the Third Dynasty – for the construction of Fifth Dynasty pyramids.

After exploring the Abusir necropolis in 1843, Lepsius developed the hypothesis that the Abusir pyramids were built by layering stone blocks at a ~75° angle against a central limestone spindle on the pyramid's vertical axis.
Lepsius justified his hypothesis with the idea that it allowed the pharaoh to expand his tomb gradually over the course of his reign, but if this was the case, then there should be a correlation between regnal duration and pyramid size, yet no such relationship exists.
Borchardt, who resurveyed the pyramids between 1902–08, further promulgated the theory after discovering what he believed were accretion layers in Sahure's pyramid.
His model of the internal structure of Sahure's pyramid, displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and his published plans for the Abusir pyramids garnered the hypothesis widespread support.
The Egyptologists Vito Maragioglio and Celeste Rinaldi examined several Fourth and Fifth Dynasty pyramids.
The failed to find any evidence supporting accretion layers, and instead found horizontal layers in the structures of the pyramids they visited, including Userkaf's and Sahure's.
In the 1980s, the Czech Abusir Mission were able to thoroughly examine the internal structure of Neferefre's unfinished pyramid.
The single completed step contained no accretion layers, and in Miroslav Verner's opinion, mostly likely none of the other Abusir pyramids did either.

At the pyramid site, builders had the ground levelled, and measures for the construction of the pyramid base taken.
A large east-west oriented rectangular trench was excavated to form the basis of the pyramid's funerary apartments, and a deep north-south oriented ditch dug to form the corridor leading to those apartments.
Two layers of massive limestone blocks were then set onto the prepared site, upon which the pyramid superstructure was to be built concurrently with the substructure.

The pyramid faces were framed by massive grey limestone blocks up to 5 m (16 ft) by 5.5 m (18 ft) by 1 m (3.3 ft) in size.
The inner chambers and passageway were similarly framed, but using much smaller blocks.
The frames were made by horizontally layering four or five courses of limestone, each 1 m (3.3 ft) thick, and bound using clay mortar, with particular attention paid to the mortaring of the corner stones.
The pyramid core, between the two frames, was then packed with rubble fill composed of limestone chips, sand, pottery shards, and clay.
Only the lowest step of Neferefre's pyramid was completed, before a hasty conversion into a square mastaba or primeval mound – as suggested by its name, iat (hill), found in the Abusir Papyri – was made to accommodate his funeral.
The single step, about 7 m (23 ft; 13 cu) tall, was enclosed by roughly dressed fine white Tura limestone blocks sloped at ~78°.
Above the chamber's ceiling, a flat roof terrace was built then covered in a thin layer of clay and gravel, completing the monument.
Burial preparations, including mummification rituals, took a prescribed minimum of seventy days.
Completion of the pyramid, a project that took years to finish, was therefore impossible.

The Abusir pyramids were thus constructed in a radically different manner to those of the preceding dynasties.
This method of construction, albeit less time and resource consuming, was careless and unstable, and meant that only the outer casing was constructed using high quality limestone.
Stripped of their valuable casing, their cores were exposed to further human destruction and natural erosion, leaving the Abusir pyramids as ruinous, formless mounds.
The pyramid's condition created the opportunity for a detailed examination of construction methodology employed by pyramid builders in the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties. In particular, the Czech team were able to test Lepsius' and Borchardt's accretion layer hypothesis – the method used in the Third Dynasty – for the construction of Fifth Dynasty pyramids.
After exploring the Abusir necropolis in 1843, Lepsius developed the hypothesis that the Abusir pyramids were built by layering stone blocks at a ~75° angle against a central limestone spindle on the pyramid's vertical axis. Lepsius justified his hypothesis with the idea that it allowed the pharaoh to expand his tomb gradually over the course of his reign, but if this was the case, then there should be a correlation between regnal duration and pyramid size, yet no such relationship exists. Borchardt, who resurveyed the pyramids between 1902–08, further promulgated the theory after discovering what he believed were accretion layers in Sahure's pyramid. His model of the internal structure of Sahure's pyramid, displayed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and his published plans for the Abusir pyramids garnered the hypothesis widespread support. The Egyptologists Vito Maragioglio and Celeste Rinaldi examined several Fourth and Fifth Dynasty pyramids. The failed to find any evidence supporting accretion layers, and instead found horizontal layers in the structures of the pyramids they visited, including Userkaf's and Sahure's. In the 1980s, the Czech Abusir Mission were able to thoroughly examine the internal structure of Neferefre's unfinished pyramid. The single completed step contained no accretion layers, and in Miroslav Verner's opinion, mostly likely none of the other Abusir pyramids did either.
At the pyramid site, builders had the ground levelled, and measures for the construction of the pyramid base taken. A large east-west oriented rectangular trench was excavated to form the basis of the pyramid's funerary apartments, and a deep north-south oriented ditch dug to form the corridor leading to those apartments. Two layers of massive limestone blocks were then set onto the prepared site, upon which the pyramid superstructure was to be built concurrently with the substructure.
The pyramid faces were framed by massive grey limestone blocks up to 5 m (16 ft) by 5.5 m (18 ft) by 1 m (3.3 ft) in size. The inner chambers and passageway were similarly framed, but using much smaller blocks. The frames were made by horizontally layering four or five courses of limestone, each 1 m (3.3 ft) thick, and bound using clay mortar, with particular attention paid to the mortaring of the corner stones. The pyramid core, between the two frames, was then packed with rubble fill composed of limestone chips, sand, pottery shards, and clay. Only the lowest step of Neferefre's pyramid was completed, before a hasty conversion into a square mastaba or primeval mound – as suggested by its name, iat (hill), found in the Abusir Papyri – was made to accommodate his funeral. The single step, about 7 m (23 ft; 13 cu) tall, was enclosed by roughly dressed fine white Tura limestone blocks sloped at ~78°. Above the chamber's ceiling, a flat roof terrace was built then covered in a thin layer of clay and gravel, completing the monument. Burial preparations, including mummification rituals, took a prescribed minimum of seventy days. Completion of the pyramid, a project that took years to finish, was therefore impossible.
The Abusir pyramids were thus constructed in a radically different manner to those of the preceding dynasties. This method of construction, albeit less time and resource consuming, was careless and unstable, and meant that only the outer casing was constructed using high quality limestone. Stripped of their valuable casing, their cores were exposed to further human destruction and natural erosion, leaving the Abusir pyramids as ruinous, formless mounds.
Pyramid of Neferefre