The Pyramids: An Enigma Solved

Rating:
Summary: The theory of moldable stone and high technology.
Review: A unique book. It gives a fine perspective and opens some doors towards thought that have been previously closed. I think that this book is no longer being published, but it is a MUST HAVE for anyone interested in the mysteries of the pyramid and the construction techniques. He opens up some areas of thought that are nothing short of pure inspiration. Not for your casual pyramid reader. But if you are interested in some in depth theory and examples, this book has it all.

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Summary: Davidovits proves the Pyramids are made of concrete.
Review: Amazing piece of research. His credentials are unimpeachable. The pyramids are made of concrete and the Eqyptians were alchemists too. How is it possible archaeologists reject this obvious science? Any mystery lover will love this work. He has my vote. Davidovits rivals Thor Heyerdahl for blowing away the "experts" on ancient civilizations and what they were capable of.

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Summary: Amazon wondered why I'd not reviewed this book I own
Review: I read this title when it was first published based on a brief in William Corliss' "Science Frontiers". This book is easy to understand and its premise easy to grasp and accept. It is out of print, but generally used copies can be found using the usual online searches. Check your local public and college libraries for copies as well.

There is no ancient account of the way the pyramids were built. The story told to Herodotus during his visit 2500 years ago suggests that the Egyptian tour guides of that time were as full of flummery as tour guides are today, and unaware of their country's history.

The conventional view -- that individual stones were used -- might work if all four sides were under construction at the same time, but this requires ramps or scaffolding. It is typical in such a model for a single ramp to wrap around.

The idea that the "stones" could be formed in situ is compelling on its own, but gains credence due to the difficulty of quarrying, smoothing, transporting, and placing full sized stones with such rapidity, particularly in the new, incredible, pseudo-historical claims by Zahi Hawass that there were no slaves in ancient Egypt, and that the stones of the Great Pyramid aren't nearly as numerous or as heavy as has been claimed.

The destruction of the mountain in Brazil which has been a hand-dug gold mine for forty or so years supports the credibility of Davidovits' idea -- that mountain has vanished and a huge pit opened under the old site, 40 pounds at a time, using ordinary digging tools and handmade ladders.

This book is highly recommended. Read it instead of the attacks that have been made against it, against the author, and against favorable reviews.

-:- No, the pyramids weren't used to generate electricity during the Old Kingdom.

-:- No, the pyramids weren't built by extraterrestrials or Atlanteans.

-:- Yes, the pyramids were used as tombs, but were robbed centuries ago.

-:- Yes, the Biblical Israelites may have constructed pyramids, but those were Middle Kingdom in date, and located in the Fayyum (see Herodotus' discussion of those mud brick structures which have for the most part vanished).

Also recommended:

-:- Voices of the Rocks by Robert Schoch et al

-:- Serpent in the Sky by John Anthony West

-:- The Mysteries of the Sphinx (VHS)

-:- Plato Prehistorian by Mary Settegast

-:- Ages In Chaos by Immanuel Velikovsky

-:- The Secret of Crete by Hans Wunderlich (out of print)

Rating:
Summary: Amazon wondered why I'd not reviewed this book I own
Review: I read this title when it was first published based on a brief in William Corliss' "Science Frontiers". This book is easy to understand and its premise easy to grasp and accept. It is out of print, but generally used copies can be found using the usual online searches. Check your local public and college libraries for copies as well.

There is no ancient account of the way the pyramids were built. The story told to Herodotus during his visit 2500 years ago suggests that the Egyptian tour guides of that time were as full of flummery as tour guides are today, and unaware of their country's history.

The conventional view -- that individual stones were used -- might work if all four sides were under construction at the same time, but this requires ramps or scaffolding. It is typical in such a model for a single ramp to wrap around.

The idea that the "stones" could be formed in situ is compelling on its own, but gains credence due to the difficulty of quarrying, smoothing, transporting, and placing full sized stones with such rapidity, particularly in the new, incredible, pseudo-historical claims by Zahi Hawass that there were no slaves in ancient Egypt, and that the stones of the Great Pyramid aren't nearly as numerous or as heavy as has been claimed.

The destruction of the mountain in Brazil which has been a hand-dug gold mine for forty or so years supports the credibility of Davidovits' idea -- that mountain has vanished and a huge pit opened under the old site, 40 pounds at a time, using ordinary digging tools and handmade ladders.

This book is highly recommended. Read it instead of the attacks that have been made against it, against the author, and against favorable reviews.

-:- No, the pyramids weren't used to generate electricity during the Old Kingdom.

-:- No, the pyramids weren't built by extraterrestrials or Atlanteans.

-:- Yes, the pyramids were used as tombs, but were robbed centuries ago.

-:- Yes, the Biblical Israelites may have constructed pyramids, but those were Middle Kingdom in date, and located in the Fayyum (see Herodotus' discussion of those mud brick structures which have for the most part vanished).

Also recommended:

-:- Voices of the Rocks by Robert Schoch et al

-:- Serpent in the Sky by John Anthony West

-:- The Mysteries of the Sphinx (VHS)

-:- Plato Prehistorian by Mary Settegast

-:- Ages In Chaos by Immanuel Velikovsky

-:- The Secret of Crete by Hans Wunderlich (out of print)

Rating:
Summary: Five stars for originality
Review: The author says the pyramids weren't built of carefully carved stone blocks, but of poured concrete. That solves a lot of problems: No need for a massive ramp larger than the pyramid to haul the blocks up. Rubble was passed upwards in baskets from man to man. No need to explain how the Egyptians carved millions of perfectly shaped blocks with only copper tools. No need to explain why some blocks in the second pyramid weigh two hundred tons. When you're hauling blocks, smaller is better, but when you're pouring, one large block is quicker.

The author give numerous other bits of confirmation: The perfect fit of the blocks because they were poured against each other. The distorted pattern of fossils in the blocks caused by dumping in thousands of fragments. Air bubbles near the tops of blocks caused by air in the still fluid cement migrating upwards.

Why hasn't this theory become widely accepted? In a way it's too good--who in the field of Egyptology wants to admit not seeing this simple solution for himself?

Rating:
Summary: The Only Pyramid Construction Theory that Makes Sense!
Review: The Pyramids: An Enigma Solved presents the only theory of pyramid construction that makes good sense. The most current Egyptological research admits that the pyramid-builders did not have strong enough metals or adequate stone tools for quarrying, cutting, and shaping medium-hard to hard limestone, granite and other hard rocks. None of the ramp theories hold up under scrutiny. What is the basis for the accepted theory that the pyramid blocks were cut and hauled? The cast-stone theory requires no ramps or strong cutting tools. If Egyptology continues to censor the cast-stone theory, as has taken place since this book's publication, people aware of the true scope of the masonry and engineering enigmas will have no choice but to believe that ancient peoples possessed super-technology that greatly surpasses today's lapidary and masonry means. Super-tech proponents will be taken very seriously, and their readers will gain a very distorted sense of history. The authors of The Pyramids: An Enigma Solved have won all of the published scientific debates on the topic subsequent to the publication of their book (see the Journal of Geological Education 1990-1994). It is hoped that readers will be cautious of knee-jerk reactionary criticisms of the cast-stone theory by laymen and experts who have not taken the trouble to learn the facts. This book won an American Library Association award and two starred reviews for its excellent contribution to literature (see the Nov. 1988 Booklist). This book will stand the test of time. The cast-stone theory is proven in principle.

Rating:
Summary: Not convincing
Review: This is one of the most curious theories I have ever encountered, and I encountered it by chance walking through the stacks of a large library. The theory that the Pyramids were built by a process of pouring concrete is so ingenious that I have always been left wondering if it is correct, and why it is never cited anywhere else. This interpretation would resolve at once many of the difficulties involved in explaining the original construction of such tremendous structures, for as the author notes the usual accounts confront a host of contradictions.

Rating:
Summary: How to build a Pyramid?
Review: This is one of the most curious theories I have ever encountered, and I encountered it by chance walking through the stacks of a large library. The theory that the Pyramids were built by a process of pouring concrete is so ingenious that I have always been left wondering if it is correct, and why it is never cited anywhere else. This interpretation would resolve at once many of the difficulties involved in explaining the original construction of such tremendous structures, for as the author notes the usual accounts confront a host of contradictions.

Rating:
Summary: Not convincing
Review: While the books premise is interesting and creative, I did not come away with the feeling that the authors had proved their point. Too many questions were left unanswered, such as why are broken fossils are found along the edges of the pyramid blocks. Entertaining, but too far outside of mainstream science to be believable.