Petrographic Observations of the Building Stones of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Zalewski, Franc

doi:10.17265/2328-2193/2017.04.002

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Let us present our idea that how they incorporated this outcrop into the monument for its stability. Quite recently, a great discovery was done by (Zalewski, 2017) that each triangular face of the Great Pyramid includes at its bottom a triangular light-colored area consisting of the special type of strong limestone, of the type "grainstone", different from the other parts. This part, which Zalewski called the "Alpha triangle", has the height 16.65 meters and the base about 150 meters, and is composed of the blocks of the uniform size and shape fitted together precisely, and the spaces between them are filled with homogeneous mortar 3 .…”

Section: Tightening the Pyramid By Reinforced Base And Concavitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Concavity of the Great Pyramid Can Be Derived from Inward Sloping Courses Needed for the Stability

Kato¹

2023

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The Great Pyramid has the character of concavity that each of its four faces is slightly indented along its central line. Applying the geometry on an inclined plane, we show that this concavity could be derived from its inner structure of inward sloping courses gently inclined towards the center of each course, at about 11 degrees to the horizontal, i.e., the slope 1/5 by the ratio of "rise over run". We explain why the inclined layers together with the reinforced base were necessary for the long-term stability of the Pyramid against the severe natural forces like the high gravitational compression, earthquakes and rainstorms, pointing out the feasible fact that the Pyramid has experienced severe rainstorms more than 500 times during the 4500 years. The crucial point about stability is that the effects of such natural forces are quite different between the core of inclined courses and that of truly level courses in the sense that the former can be tightened to become stronger over time, but the latter would be disintegrated to be weaker over time. Scaled-down models of the Pyramid are introduced to understand the large-scale dynamics of the Pyramid. In particular, the small model reduced by 10 −3 helps us to imagine the transformation of vertical into lateral forces, pointed out by Mendelssohn. On the other hand, the Step Pyramid of Djoser can be identified almost as the half-sized model of the Great Pyramid when the Great Pyramid was assumed to be composed only of truly level courses. And this identification tells the fate of the Great Pyramid only of truly level courses that it would have almost collapsed until now like the Step Pyramid before the recent restoration.

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Section: Tightening the Pyramid By Reinforced Base And Concavitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The Concavity of the Great Pyramid Can Be Derived from Inward Sloping Courses Needed for the Stability

Kato¹

2023

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“…A representative study examining the petrological characteristics of tomb stones and discussing the supply route was related to the Egyptian pyramids [5,6]. Thanks to these studies, the source and transport route of stone, mainly limestone, for the construction of the pyramids were identified, which helped in the analysis of construction techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interpretation of Archaeogeological and Lithological Characters for Stones Used in Korean Ancient Tombs around the Songpa of Seoul

2022

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This study concerns the lithologic characteristics of the stone used as the main construction materials of ancient Korean tombs, and aims to understand how they were supplied. Specifically, we investigated the main ancient tombs in the Songpa district, south of the Hangang River in Seoul, composing the connected stone-mound tombs in the Seokchon-dong tomb complex, Bangi-dong tomb No. 3, and 13 horizontal stone-chamber tombs in the Gamil-dong tomb complex. There are major differences among the tombs reflected in the types of rock used as construction materials in these sites. Tombs at Seokchon-dong and Bangi-dong were built mainly using biotite gneiss, whereas those at Gamil-dong are composed of amphibole schist. By comparing the characteristics of the rocks collected from the provenance sites, we concluded that the quartzite used at the Gamil-dong tombs was from Cheonma Mountain, the gneiss at the Bangi-dong sites was from Daemo Mountain, and the amphibole schist and diabase at the Gamil-dong sites were from Cheonma Mountain. On the other hand, gravel-shaped stone materials are found in the tombs of Seokchon-dong and Bangi-dong, but not in Gamil-dong tombs. Therefore, it can be seen that between Seokchon-dong, Bangi-dong, and Gamil-dong tombs, there is a difference not only in the main constituent rock types, but also in the shape of the stone materials. These gravel-shaped stones are assumed to have been transported via the Hangang River drainage system and supplied to Seokchon-dong and Bangi-dong tombs. Therefore, we consider that the constructors of the tombs in the ancient Songpa district locally sourced materials of different rock types.

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“…Hanafy Holail presented a diagnosis study of the middle Eocene "nummulite bank" of Giza Pyramid plateau and explained that the early diagentic alteration of the rock matrix was followed by partial to complete dolomitization of the limestone matrix and nummulite grains (Hanafy.M.Holail.1994) [8]. Frank Zalewski studied and give us opportunity to see the construction materials of great pyramid in his study about petrography observations of the building stones of great pyramids(Zalewski,F.2017) [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geo-Environmental investigation of Sahure pyramid complex, Abusir Archeological site, Giza, Egypt

Fahmy¹,

Helmy²

2021

Preprint

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Abusir is the name of an elaborate burial area, dotted with 19 pyramids other temples, stretching on the western side of the Nile from the south of the Giza Plateau to the northern rim of Saqqara. It seems to have been created as the resting site for the Pharaos dated from 2494 to 2345 BC. The name Abusir, originally spoken as Busiri, means” temple of Osiris”. Over time, the name has become so popular, that more than 60 villages now carry this name. But only one is the archaeological site. This paper does not refer to all of the Abusir archaeological area, but focuses one of its most important sites: Sahure pyramid, one of Egypt’s little known, but heavily damaged treasure. One of the highlights of the relevant research is the discovery of a piece of cement (Basaltic mortar/concrete), which consists of several materials and which is harder than any cement produced today and detection of a clear and significant Anorthite mineral (Plagioclase) in the mortar sample which had been proven by XRD, XRF (analysis) and Polarized light microscope (investigation). The main objectives of this paper are 1) to reveal and identify the construction materials of the pyramid and the construction of the pyramid,2) to evaluate the durability and vulnerability of the Ancient construction materials of Sahure pyramid,3) to compare the decayed patterns of the different construction materials, 4) to study the pyramid building materials from geological, meteorological, geochemical, petrological and petrophysical point of view, and 5) to present a proposal for scientific conservation and protection of the pyramid. Laboratories and field studies have been carried out by researchers from various countries to investigate and understand the problems of the pyramid leading to the final results which confirmed the impact of the geo environment conditions on the structural and engineering stability of the pyramid.

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Petrographic Observations of the Building Stones of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Cited by 5 publications

References 8 publications

The Concavity of the Great Pyramid Can Be Derived from Inward Sloping Courses Needed for the Stability

The Concavity of the Great Pyramid Can Be Derived from Inward Sloping Courses Needed for the Stability

Interpretation of Archaeogeological and Lithological Characters for Stones Used in Korean Ancient Tombs around the Songpa of Seoul

Geo-Environmental investigation of Sahure pyramid complex, Abusir Archeological site, Giza, Egypt

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