Joseph Davidovits controversially proposed that pyramid limestone blocks were cast from geopolymer, an early form of synthetic concrete. Lab analysis found air bubbles and even human hair fibers trapped inside blocks, implying the material was still wet when placed. Old Kingdom Egyptians had natron, quicklime, and Nile clay available, plus the skill to make self-glazing faience. The theory struggles to explain the dozens-of-tons granite blocks though.
Geopolymer theory: Davidovits' proposal that pyramid blocks were cast as ancient concrete
EgyptTheory
Key facts
- Joseph Davidovits proposed that pyramid limestone blocks were made from geopolymer, an early form of synthetic concrete
- Chemical analysis of pyramid blocks revealed air bubbles trapped inside, which should not exist in natural limestone
- Human hair fibers were found trapped inside some blocks, implying the material was still wet when placed
- Laboratory tests identified amorphous silica phases and chemical compounds inconsistent with natural limestone but consistent with man-made stone
- Available materials in Old Kingdom Egypt included natron (natural soda ash), limestone-derived quicklime, and Nile floodplain clays; Egyptians also produced self-glazing faience ceramic
- The bulk of the pyramid was built using nummulitic limestone, but fossils within pyramid stones are jumbled rather than lying in natural horizontal sedimentary layers
- Archaeologists have found relatively few copper chisels or pounding tools at Giza despite the conventional theory requiring extensive quarrying
- The theory does not explain the dozens-of-tons granite blocks transported from southern Egypt to the King's Chamber
Site mentioned
Sources
They Built the Pyramids - Joseph Davidovitsbooks.google.com
Joseph Davidovits explains the intriguing theory that made him famous. He shows how the Pyramids were built by using re-agglomerated stone ...
Joseph Davidovitsen.wikipedia.org
He posited that the blocks of the Great Pyramid are not carved stone but mostly a form of limestone concrete or man-made stone.
Gathering 'concrete' evidencenews.mit.edu
MIT class explores controversial pyramid theory with scale model. ... Davidovits, who invented (or perhaps reinvented) the geopolymer formula.
Joseph DAVIDOVITS | Professor Emeritusresearchgate.net
In this book, Professor Joseph Davidovits explains the intriguing theory that made him famous. He shows how the Pyramids were built by using re-agglomerated ...
Cutting-Edge analysis proves Davidovits' Pyramid theorygeopolymer.org
Joseph Davidovits proposed that the pyramids were cast in situ using granular limestone aggregate and an alkali alumino-silicate-based binder.
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