Back to Index ~ Theories of Dr. Clemmons
Use of Beer as a Construction Pad in Antiquity
Executive Summary
Problem
When out in the field in
As part of the construction process, we also needed to create a pad whereby heavy equipment (e.g. forklifts, backhoes) could operate.
The soil in Quartz Hill is loose and sandy (soils analysis from Brian Brubaker). This type of soil makes it impossible to use a forklift (modern equipment) and log rollers (ancient equipment). The log rollers jam in the sand under even the slightest pressure, and the heavy equipment cannot maneuver.
Resolution
As we have an extremely limited budget, we called Brian Brubaker of Permazyme to create a foundation. Permazyme is a soil stabilizer composed of natural enzymes, which combine the inorganic and organic materials in the soil creating a strong “cementation” action. The natural “active’ ingredient in Permazyme is yeast. The process entails:
1) Mixing the ground thoroughly with water
2) Mixing the Permazyme with water and mixing it with the soil.
3) Compacting the ground with an 11-ton roller
4) Wait four days
As a test, we also treated a small pad of ground with beer. Within four days, the beer pad demonstrated the same cementation effect as the Permazyme. The results of the comapction test are as follows:
Permazyme Ground 119.6 pounds per cubic foot (compacted with 11-ton roller)
Beer-treated Ground 110.6 pounds per cubic foot (compacted by six kids feet)
Native Ground 102.8 pounds per cubic foot (non-compacted)
Hypotheses
Ø Could the ancient Egyptians, Sumerians and Babylonians have used beer for construction pads?
Ø How effective is beer in creating a construction pad?
Beer in Antiquity
The oldest proven records of beer production are 6,000 years old. The Sumerians put 40 percent of their barley harvest into the manufacture of Beer. The Babylonians knew how to make 20 different kinds of beer using barley, emmer and a combination of grains. The Egyptians brewed their beer using unbaked bread, a practice still employed today.
Experiment
A field experiment will be conducted that will investigate the feasibility of using beer for construction pads. The Egyptians used livestock, i.e. cattle and sheep, to compact their soils prior to construction. This is where we get the modern term “sheep foot”.
The experiment will take place at
It will involve four areas of ground:
1) One area not touched, used as a baseline
2) One area mixed with Permazyme and compacted with a multi-ton roller
3) One area mixed with water and compacted with cattle
4) One area mixed with beer and compacted with cattle
Due to a limited budget, modern beer will be employed.
After the ground is treated and four days have elapsed, a soil analysis and compaction analysis will be completed on all four areas. The “baseline” pad will provide the information on untreated ground, and will be compared to the other pads.
The goal will be to ascertain the compaction rate of the beer and water treated ground, and compare that to the Permazyme treated ground.
What we need:
Ø Four marked areas
Ø Soil tests
Ø Compaction tests
Ø
20 kegs of beer (Coors, Budweiser and
Ø Fence (inexpensive)
Ø Cattle
Ø Drover
Ø Roller
Ø Water Truck
Ø Backhoe for mixing ground, or students with rakes
Calendar:
October 8, 2002 Planning meeting
October 14, 2002 Mark ground, soil samples
November 4, 2002 Treat ground
November 9, 2002 Soil samples for compaction tests, soil analysis
November ??? Press Conference and demonstration