The Surprising Truth Behind the Construction of the Great Pyramids Sheila Berninger
and Dorilona Rose
LiveScience.com
Tue May 22, 1:24 AM ET



This Behind the Scenes article was provided to LiveScience in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

“This is not my day job.” So begins Michel Barsoum as he recounts his foray into the mysteries of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. As a well respected researcher in the field of ceramics, Barsoum never expected his career to take him down a path of history, archaeology, and “political” science, with materials research mixed in.

As a distinguished professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University, his daily routine consists mainly of teaching students about ceramics, or performing research on a new class of materials, the so-called MAX Phases, that he and his colleagues discovered in the 1990s. These modern ceramics are machinable, thermal-shock resistant, and are better conductors of heat and electricity than many metals—making them potential candidates for use in nuclear power plants, the automotive industry, jet engines, and a range of other high-demand systems.

Then Barsoum received an unexpected phone call from Michael Carrell, a friend of a retired colleague of Barsoum, who called to chat with the Egyptian-born Barsoum about how much he knew of the mysteries surrounding the building of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the only remaining of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The widely accepted theory—that the pyramids were crafted of carved-out giant limestone blocks that workers carried up ramps—had not only not been embraced by everyone, but as important had quite a number of holes.

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Burst out laughing

According to the caller, the mysteries had actually been solved by Joseph Davidovits, Director of the Geopolymer Institute in St. Quentin, France, more than two decades ago. Davidovits claimed that the stones of the pyramids were actually made of a very early form of concrete created using a mixture of limestone, clay, lime, and water.

“It was at this point in the conversation that I burst out laughing,” says Barsoum. If the pyramids were indeed cast, he says, someone should have proven it beyond a doubt by now, in this day and age, with just a few hours of electron microscopy.

It turned out that nobody had completely proven the theory…yet.

“What started as a two-hour project turned into a five-year odyssey that I undertook with one of my graduate students, Adrish Ganguly, and a colleague in France, Gilles Hug,” Barsoum says.

A year and a half later, after extensive scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations and other testing, Barsoum and his research group finally began to draw some conclusions about the pyramids. They found that the tiniest structures within the inner and outer casing stones were indeed consistent with a reconstituted limestone. The cement binding the limestone aggregate was either silicon dioxide (the building block of quartz) or a calcium and magnesium-rich silicate mineral.

The stones also had a high water content—unusual for the normally dry, natural limestone found on the Giza plateau—and the cementing phases, in both the inner and outer casing stones, were amorphous, in other words, their atoms were not arranged in a regular and periodic array. Sedimentary rocks such as limestone are seldom, if ever, amorphous.

The sample chemistries the researchers found do not exist anywhere in nature. “Therefore,” says Barsoum, “it’s very improbable that the outer and inner casing stones that we examined were chiseled from a natural limestone block.”

More startlingly, Barsoum and another of his graduate students, Aaron Sakulich, recently discovered the presence of silicon dioxide nanoscale spheres (with diameters only billionths of a meter across) in one of the samples. This discovery further confirms that these blocks are not natural limestone.


Generations misled


At the end of their most recent paper reporting these findings, the researchers reflect that it is “ironic, sublime and truly humbling” that this 4,500-year-old limestone is so true to the original that it has misled generations of Egyptologists and geologists and, “because the ancient Egyptians were the original—albeit unknowing—nanotechnologists.”

As if the scientific evidence isn’t enough, Barsoum has pointed out a number of common sense reasons why the pyramids were not likely constructed entirely of chiseled limestone blocks.

Egyptologists are consistently confronted by unanswered questions: How is it possible that some of the blocks are so perfectly matched that not even a human hair can be inserted between them? Why, despite the existence of millions of tons of stone, carved presumably with copper chisels, has not one copper chisel ever been found on the Giza Plateau?

Although Barsoum’s research has not answered all of these questions, his work provides insight into some of the key questions. For example, it is now more likely than not that the tops of the pyramids are cast, as it would have been increasingly difficult to drag the stones to the summit.

Also, casting would explain why some of the stones fit so closely together. Still, as with all great mysteries, not every aspect of the pyramids can be explained. How the Egyptians hoisted 70-ton granite slabs halfway up the great pyramid remains as mysterious as ever.

Why do the results of Barsoum’s research matter most today? Two words: earth cements.

“How energy intensive and/or complicated can a 4,500 year old technology really be? The answer to both questions is not very,” Barsoum explains. “The basic raw materials used for this early form of concrete—limestone, lime, and diatomaceous earth—can be found virtually anywhere in the world,” he adds. “Replicating this method of construction would be cost effective, long lasting, and much more environmentally friendly than the current building material of choice: Portland cement that alone pumps roughly 6 billion tons of CO2 annually into the atmosphere when it’s manufactured.”

“Ironically,” says Barsoum, “this study of 4,500 year old rocks is not about the past, but about the future

http://touregypt.net/teblog/egyptologynews/?p=2348

an Audio-video of Michel Barsoum's 1 hour presentation is at the above website

very fascinating,..........very interesting photos

Thanks!

dennis

I just posted it . because it has fascinated me since childhood. I went inside the Giza pyramid and it was amazing. The answer now seems so simple and it has eluded scientists for so long.
C

Did you see any egyptian mummies?.

Great post about the pyramid "C".

"pyramid" literally means ... fire in the mid ... pyro = fire

In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. Isaiah 19:19.

The borders of Egypt are quite different now, but at one time the great pyramid would have been located as stated in the Bible ... in the midst of the land of Egypt.

The book "Prophecy In Stone" states that originally the Great Pyramid was covered with 144 thousand (Rev 14) polished white limestone blocks that were sealed with a substance so strong that the blocks would break, but not at the seal.

It is one of the few pyramids in Egypt that does not have pagan signs/symbols on it. I believe it is the only pyramid in existence with a "missing" capstone ... in that a pyamid is in the shape of a triangle, could we say that its "cornerstone" is missing?

Using "simple English gematria" ... A=1 ... Z=26 results in the following numeric examples:

THE ALTAR PILLAR = 153
THE FIRE IN THE MID = 153 ... (John 21:11 and the 153 fish)

HIDDEN WITNESS = 153
MEAT OF THE WORD = 153
MICHAEL THE ARCH ANGEL = 153

Gematria uses number and letter as a numbering sign.

NUMBER LETTER = 153
A NUMBERING SIGN = 153

What would be the purpose of simple English gematria?

TO GLORIFY GOD = 153
PURE AND SIMPLE = 153

You may recall my post which included some examples of "simple English gematria" of ... "74".

JESUS = 74
JEWISH = 74
MESSIAH = 74

Y'SHUA = 74
JOSHUA = 74

CROSS = 74
GOSPEL = 74
PREACHER = 74

SIMPLE = 74
ENGLISH = 74
GEMATRIA = 74

Now, back to the "fire" in the midst of "Egypt".

PYRO = 74

Today, we spell it as ... Egypt ... but for years, it was "AEgypt". Check out the Greek in the passage speaking about the two witnesses. Rev 11:8.

AEGYPT = 74

If spelt as today, counting the word Egypt would sum at ... 73.

COUNT = 73
NUMBER = 73

Revelation speaks of David as being ... The Key.

THE KEY = 74

There is a musical mystery in the Bible, it is the word "selah" ... it occurs 74 times.

73 of the songs or psalms are attributed to David.
If he sang a "new song" (number 74) it would likely be about Jesus (74)

SING A NEW PSALM = 153

THE CHIEF MUSICIAN = 153


ccc

There were several keywords in your post that struck me as interesting.

Not long ago, maybe 3-4 months ago, JR Church and Gary Stearman had done a study along with an expert on Egyptian atiquities on the great pyramids.

I"ve been trying to find a link to the video they had on thier website "prophecy in the news" for all to watch. If I could ever find it in thier archives I'll update the post. But bascially they were saying that the great pyramid was "The pillar of Enoch built as an altar unto the Lord".

Egypt and mystery seem to go hand in glove don't they Diverteach?

No, but there were some in the museum ( I was with friends who did not want to go and look, so I missed out that day )

I will look for some info on the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is not a tomb and it is filled with interesting measurements that is prophetic in nature. The line that has the pyramid inch that stops at 2015? I might have that date wrong, I will check.
C

in the bible, egypt is a "picture" of bondage/slavery to sin.

these pyramids are (as per most people's thoughts) great monuments to death..........graveyards/mauseleums..............tombs

dedicated to fake religions and false gods.........false gods which are demons..............

Pharoah's magicians (occultists) did fantastic miracles by the power of satan,..........but God (thru Moses) defeated satan's miracles

the wages of sin is death
Egypt is famous for it's GREAT TOMBS. (pyramids)

dennis

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:5rze2...;cd=2&gl=us

Now read this!

It was WHEN I read this that God gave me my vision of Hell!!

God also gave me a revelation: the Pharisees (or whatever other name they used at that time), WITH SATAN'S HELP, built the Great Pyramid! This is WHY it stands on the one Dollar bill!

In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord. Isaiah 19:19.

Any comments about this prophecy?

I tend to agree with you calvin.
Also Dennis: the Great Pyramid is not a tomb.

Im really confused now....can someone put all of this in laymans terms for me???

Here's a link to a site you will find some very interesting info.

http://www.pillar-of-enoch.com/

Isaiah 19 is a prophecy of end times and the millenium. In an amazing twist of fate Egypt in the end times will be subjugated and cruely treated by a dominating force (princes of Zoan) which is hostile against God. The whole Egyptian nation will suffer under the burden of this power just as God's people suffered under the Egyptians. This situation will exist for some time into the millenium as described in Zech 14 the people of Egypt refuse to go to worship the Lord in Jerusalem and so they receive no rain.
18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the Lord will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment [5] of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Basically instead of the Egypts coming up to worship God in Jerusalem they huddle in terrible fear in their land as described in Isaiah
16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it. 17 And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts, which he hath determined against it.

But in the midst of this chaos and huddling fear a conglomerate of five cities in the nation begin to worship God and are therefore horribly persecuted by the ruling power and are not allowed to go up to Jerusalem to worship. So in their own land they set up an altar in their region to worship God, they all start speaking the language of Judaea to demonstrate their new allegiance and they erect a pillar at the boundary of their region on the way to Jerusalem. AND best of all they cry out to God for deliverance just as the people of Israel had cried out to him all those years ago. Now what happens? This is what God has been waiting for. The prayers of the people. So he sends a saviour (Jesus Christ) from his ruling throne in Jerusalem to deliver those five cities in Egypt and ultimately the entire nation of Egypt. So thoroughly is their salvation that these former enemies of God become his people, along with Assyria.

So this is a fantastic story of deliverance of God's new people which occurs during the millenium. We sometimes have this notion that the millenium is like a utopia dream land where nothing exciting or interesting happens. But in fact there is plenty of detail in the Bible to show that this will be a period of rich history as has every age of man been.

What I first noticed is that is said AN ALTAR to the LORD, and not THE altar. Maybe Egypt (which represents the world) will come to worhip God and even mark its borders for the stranger so that he knows that he is entering a country that worship the LORD, like an advertising....