Barsoum: The Great Pyramids and Concrete

Michel W. Barsoum, a professor of materials engineering at Drexel University, in Philadelphia, is advancing the idea that the Great Pyramids of Giza are made out of more than just cut natural limestone (which mystified us all as to how exactly they hoisted cut limestone way up there high on the pyramid structure). How did those ancients do it? Barsoum thinks they used concrete to make concrete blocks. “They used concrete blocks,” he said, according to the NY TIMES, “on the outer and inner casings and probably on the upper levels, where it would have been difficult to hoist carved stone.”

This entry was written by Shawn and posted on November 30, 2006 at 7:48 pm and filed under Sayings. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

Robin Edgar

Posted December 1, 2006 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

Well what evidence does he have to support these claims?
Shawn

Posted December 1, 2006 at 3:28 pm | Permalink

It’s in the linked article Robin.

It says: “Dr. Barsoum and his co-workers analyzed the mineralogy of samples from several parts of the Khufu pyramid, and said they found mineral ratios that do not exist in any of the known limestone sources. From the geochemical mix of lime, sand and clay, they concluded, ‘the simplest explanation’ is that it was cast concrete.”

He has some support too: “David Walker, a Columbia geologist who has read the report, said that the microscopic examination of the blocks ‘certainly revealed things you wouldn’t expect to find in normal limestone.’”

We will have to wait and see!
Dave from Drexel

Posted December 2, 2006 at 9:33 pm | Permalink

http://www.mse.drexel.edu/max/PyramidPresentation.htm
Here’s the presentation
Shawn

Posted December 3, 2006 at 2:59 pm | Permalink

Great! Thanks for the link, Dave. It is most helpful.