Engineers Move 1700 Kg Concrete Blocks By Hand, Suggesting How Old Temples-Pyramids Were Built

In the distant past, builders didn't have the advantage of modern hulking machines.

And yet, somehow massive constructions like the Stonehenge, pyramids, and even temples in India were built, using blocks larger than anyone should have been able to move.

Images courtesy: Matter Design Studio

Now, a group of researchers from MIT may have just show how that was possible. The master engineers that they are designed a set of concrete structures that weigh up to 1,700 kilograms, and yet just moved and assembled the pieces by hand. It's a masterwork in balance and leverage that's a truly awesome spectacle to behold.

The experiment was conducted by Matter Design, the co-founder of which, Brandon Clifford, is also an assistant professor at MIT, in collaboration with building materials company CEMEX. Together, they designed a series of concrete monoliths that could be assembled like a giant puzzle. Despite weighing thousands of kilograms a piece however, they were made in such a way that even a single person could shift pieces around by hand and assemble them.

The blocks, called massive masonry units (MMUs), are made from concrete of different densities. That way, they could control where the center of gravity for each piece would be. They also added very specifically placed rounded edges, curves, and handles. With this, they could make sure the pieces interlock to give a sturdy final construction, while also allowing mobility. Though it's impossible for a person to lift any of the pieces, they can however be tilted, rolled, and pivoted by a single person to adjust and move them.

This experiment does more than just show how archaic constructions were made however. Thanks to modern technology like 3D printing, where we can manufacture MMUs like this as we see fit, it also means groups can build sturdy and durable structures quickly and easily even in remote places with no means of access for cranes or trucks. For instance, this could come in incredibly handy for an NGO to build housing for the poor even in villages where the nearest road wide enough for a transport vehicle is a kilometre away.

Or they could be placed in low-lying areas where people can, at a moment's notice, assemble the structures to form an impromptu barrier to protect the village from flood waters. Frankly, the possibilities are endless.

Also, it's really cool just watching these giant Lego pieces shifting around.