The Babylonians gave correct solutions of numerical problems involving rectangular parallelepipeds right-circular cylinders, and right prisms with trapezoidal bases.  This had obvious applications to earthwork problems in excavations of canals for drainage or irrigation.  However, their rule for the volume of a truncated square pyramid was incorrect.  This was perfected later by the Egyptians, which will be one of the most remarkable achievements of pre-Greek mathematics.

Author: Esther Landin

References:
The Development of Mathematics.  McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc.  1st ed.  New York.  1940