Hi - I'm Alex Moseson, one of the researchers at Drexel University on this project. Many of your observations are great!
I HIGHLY recommend the following two links:
I agree, you wouldn't expect limestone to dissolve in water, and you do describe the general process for Portland Cement. "Geopolymers" however, work on an entirely different chemical reaction. You're also right about this being further work on Davidovits' original theory.
Some more food for thought now. Here are some difficulties with the "carve and hoist" theory:
Multi-ton blocks, up to 60 tons each and an average of about 2.5 tons, fit together so precisely that a playing card can't be wedged between them.
The Great Pyramid is the largest of all the pyramids. To fit into the accepted timeline for its construction, one block, weighing on average more than two tons, would have to be placed every six minutes. The number of men working in the quarries to harvest the blocks, to transport them across the desert, and to drop them into place at the site is estimated to be substantially larger than the population of the nearby city at Giza.
Their copper tools would have blunted almost immediately when carving solid limestone.
Many of the outer pyramid blocks obviously and curiously take the non-uniform shape of surrounding blocks.
All that being said, there are also some difficulties with the "poured" theory:
There are obvious natural grains in granite pyramid blocks. This means they're almost certainly natural.
Observation has shown that the lower 2/3 of the pyramid seem to be filled with rubble! (rocks which seem to have been cut and "tossed" in.
Archeologists have discovered a quarry which shows evidence of carved blocks.
So, we propose a hybrid theory. Portions of the pyramid were cast, while others were poured. This is work involving PhDs from around the world, electron microscopes, and a couple of grad students (like myself) that make this stuff daily! Our work shows that the outer and inner casing blocks (the outermost part, and the inside hallway lining) are not natural limestone. They are however, consistent with casting! Take the test in the presentation! You'll be able to see with your own eyes which blocks are cast, and which are poured.
Check out the links above for more information! We don't pretend to know it all. More research is needed. Whatever it has to do with the pyramids though, we're sure this geopolymer stuff will be useful as a sustainable, environmentally friendly building material. Think developing communities upgrading from grass huts and mud brick to roads and "geopolymer concrete" houses. For next to free. More details to come:)
Slashdot Mirror
- Joseph Davidovits (who first proposed it decades ago) actually making the pyramid blocks by pouring them! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znQk_yBHre4
- Official presentation from Dr. Michel Barsoum's group at Drexel University: http://www.mse.drexel.edu/max/PyramidPresentation
. htm. (Sorry it's HUGE right now, we'll be compressing it soon.)
I agree, you wouldn't expect limestone to dissolve in water, and you do describe the general process for Portland Cement. "Geopolymers" however, work on an entirely different chemical reaction. You're also right about this being further work on Davidovits' original theory. Some more food for thought now. Here are some difficulties with the "carve and hoist" theory:- Multi-ton blocks, up to 60 tons each and an average of about 2.5 tons, fit together so precisely that a playing card can't be wedged between them.
- The Great Pyramid is the largest of all the pyramids. To fit into the accepted timeline for its construction, one block, weighing on average more than two tons, would have to be placed every six minutes. The number of men working in the quarries to harvest the blocks, to transport them across the desert, and to drop them into place at the site is estimated to be substantially larger than the population of the nearby city at Giza.
- Their copper tools would have blunted almost immediately when carving solid limestone.
- Many of the outer pyramid blocks obviously and curiously take the non-uniform shape of surrounding blocks.
All that being said, there are also some difficulties with the "poured" theory:- There are obvious natural grains in granite pyramid blocks. This means they're almost certainly natural.
- Observation has shown that the lower 2/3 of the pyramid seem to be filled with rubble! (rocks which seem to have been cut and "tossed" in.
- Archeologists have discovered a quarry which shows evidence of carved blocks.
So, we propose a hybrid theory. Portions of the pyramid were cast, while others were poured. This is work involving PhDs from around the world, electron microscopes, and a couple of grad students (like myself) that make this stuff daily! Our work shows that the outer and inner casing blocks (the outermost part, and the inside hallway lining) are not natural limestone. They are however, consistent with casting! Take the test in the presentation! You'll be able to see with your own eyes which blocks are cast, and which are poured. Check out the links above for more information! We don't pretend to know it all. More research is needed. Whatever it has to do with the pyramids though, we're sure this geopolymer stuff will be useful as a sustainable, environmentally friendly building material. Think developing communities upgrading from grass huts and mud brick to roads and "geopolymer concrete" houses. For next to free. More details to come