Sahure's pyramid is situated upon a hill elevated above the Nile valley. Although the subsoil of the area has never been investigated, evidence from the nearby mastaba of Ptahshepses suggests that the pyramid was not embedded into bedrock, but on a platform constructed from at least two layers of limestone. The pyramid had a, likely horizontally layered, core comprising six ascending steps, five of which remain. The core consisted of low-grade roughly cut limestone bound with mud mortar, and was encased by fine white limestone.