Megalithic Geopolymer Studies

Context
This RFP builds on a broader line of inquiry associated with Joseph Davidovits, who beginning in the 1980s proposed that certain ancient megaliths—from the Egyptian pyramids to Tiwanaku and Pumapunku in South America—were cast from geopolymer concrete rather than quarried and transported as whole blocks. Davidovits' work focused on identifying geopolymeric signatures in existing megalithic stones, but did not propose a specific method by which ancient builders could have produced water glass (the alkali-silicate binder) itself using locally available materials and pre-industrial tools. That practical gap—how to actually make water glass from scratch with ancient methods—is what Fóti's protocol now claims to address.

In 2025, independent researcher Marcell Fóti publicly released a complete, closed-loop video protocol for "stone softening." The method has two distinct stages: first, a eutectic mixture of sodium and potassium hydroxides (melting at ~168 °C) is reacted with quartz sand or crushed granite over multiple days of open-atmosphere boiling, evaporation, and re-dissolution cycles to dissolve the stone into a water-glass (alkali silicate) binder; second, this binder is mixed with additional crushed aggregate, shaped or cast on tilted surfaces to drain excess lye, and cured over days to weeks depending on conditions to produce hardened artificial stone. Together, these stages form a closed loop—stone in, stone out—using only heat, water, and alkali. The full method is demonstrated briefly in a video on his channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1qf9QbWbP8

Fóti claims the technique, using only materials and tools available to ancient Andean societies, explains how massive megaliths (tens to hundreds of tons) at sites such as Ollantaytambo and Sacsayhuaman were created—turning "superhuman" feats into advanced masonry rather than impossible lifting. While related geopolymer and water-glass research exists, this specific low-temperature, multi-cycle protocol hasn’t been independently replicated, evaluated, or tested in an academic laboratory setting.

Why this matters
If validated with local Andean materials, this protocol could provide a practical explanation for how massive Inca and pre-Inca megaliths were created. The specific multi-day open-atmosphere protocol, its feasibility, and the blind distinguishability of the output have never been tested under independent academic conditions.

We’re seeking proposals that address this exact gap with transparent experimentation.

Objective
This funding opportunity is designed to support high-rigor experimental research at the frontier of materials science, chemistry, and archaeometry. We’re seeking bold and meticulously controlled proposals that move knowledge from social-media demos to definitive, peer-reviewed laboratory experimentation – either supporting or refuting the above objectives. Eligible projects should be exploratory in ambition but uncompromising in scientific standards. The goal is to generate clear, reproducible results that settle key uncertainties.

Specifically, we are seeking proposals that address the following three overarching goals:

Replication: Can Fóti's published protocol be followed step-by-step under controlled laboratory conditions to consistently produce a hardened artificial stone, and how do the outcomes vary across different input rock types, batch sizes, and environmental conditions?
1. Proposals should include strategies for exact replication across multiple independent runs, with systematic documentation of binder formation, slurry workability, and casting success.
Materials Analysis: Comprehensive materials-science characterization and chemical analysis at each stage of the process to map the reaction pathway, identify intermediary compounds, and build a complete mechanical and compositional profile of the final cured product—providing the data needed to understand exactly what is forming, how it compares to natural stone, and where the method's strengths and limitations lie.
1. Proposals may also include blinded comparative testing of cast specimens against reliably sourced natural Andean megalith and quarry samples, with quantitative evaluation of analyst accuracy and distinguishing criteria using randomized, coded sample sets.
Historical Feasibility: Can every input in the protocol—alkali sources, aggregate, fuel, vessels, and tools—be substituted with materials locally available in the pre-colonial Andean highlands, and do the results hold when produced entirely under pre-industrial conditions and at archaeologically relevant scales?
1. Proposals should evaluate substitution with authentic plant ashes, local quarry stone, open-fire heating, ceramic vessels, and biomass fuel, as well as assessment of scalability, energy and labor requirements, and practical feasibility for producing large blocks. Proposals that explore the feasibility of analogous alkali sources in other megalithic regions—such as natron-based formulations relevant to Egypt or kelp-ash formulations relevant to Pacific Island sites—are also welcome.

Funding Details
A pseudonymous donor has contributed $200,000 USD in funding, which will be awarded to fully fund selected proposals. In addition, all eligible proposals will have the opportunity to receive additional support through community crowdfunding.

Proposals may address any or multiple individual objectives above. Please specify your relevant expertise and experience for each objective addressed in your proposal.

Funding will be allocated on a rolling basis – there is no formal deadline.

Funds will be processed as an unrestricted gift to your lab at your academic institution through our nonprofit partner, Endaoment. There are no restrictions on publication of final results, as we want to provide researchers with maximum flexibility. For more information on ResearchHub Funding, please see: https://docs.researchhub.com/researchhub/product-features/fund/funding-recipients#faqs

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should verify identity on ResearchHub to provide evidence of credentials.
Faculty, postdocs, and PhD students are eligible.
Collaborative and interdisciplinary teams (materials science + geochemistry + archaeometry + Andean archaeology) are strongly encouraged.
Projects should be feasible within a proposed 12–24 month timeframe using available or obtainable infrastructure.
Proposals involving chemical synthesis or geological samples must demonstrate appropriate safety, ethical oversight, and permits.

Open Science Commitments

We greatly value open science practices as they increase the downstream reproducibility of research and broaden public engagement with the scientific process.

Preregistration: All selected applicants must preregister their full study protocol (including blinding procedures where applicable) on a public platform before funding is released.
Open-Access Data Sharing: By participating, applicants agree to share all raw data, spectra, micrographs, and code in an open-access repository (e.g., Zenodo or OSF) with permanent DOIs.
Preprint: Researchers are encouraged to upload a preprint of their findings to any open access repository, although this is not required.
Progress Updates: Successfully funded researchers are incentivized with $50 monthly tips to share regular updates publicly, although these are not required.

Questions
For questions, please post directly in the “Conversation” tab of the RFP or contact Tyler at tyler@researchhub.com.

Please note, Tyler is not the primary funder of this work but is acting as a liaison.

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