Most people struggle with being stuck in a small space for a few minutes.
This man chose to do it for an entire week.
On purpose.
It All Started With An Unusual Idea
Abraham Poincheval decided to take on one of his most extreme projects yet.
He placed himself inside a 12-tonne limestone boulder inside a museum in Paris.
Then the rock was sealed around him.
Trapped Inside A Rock
Before entering, Poincheval carved out a small space inside the stone just enough room to sit.
Inside, he had:
- Water
- Soup
- Dried meat
And that was it.
No real movement.
No way to stretch.
Just darkness… and silence.
What It Felt Like Inside
After nearly three days inside, he described the experience in a way that caught people’s attention.
He said it felt like:
“Tripping.”
He even compared it to traveling through space:
“I am travelling in this rock without moving, like an astronaut.”
Losing Track Of Time
Without a watch or natural light, he had no real sense of day or night.
The only clues came from:
- Sounds inside the museum
- Visitors walking nearby
Otherwise…
Time just blended together.
The Hardest Part Wasn’t What You’d Expect
You might think claustrophobia would be the biggest challenge.
But according to him, it wasn’t.
Instead, it was sleep deprivation.
“I can sleep, but it is very hard. I don’t know whether I am sleeping well or not.”
A Strange Connection
Despite being sealed inside a rock…
He said he didn’t feel trapped.
In fact, he felt completely at ease.
“I do not feel oppressed. I feel in real connection with it.”
People Came To See Him
Visitors gathered around the rock, speaking through a small crack.
Some read poetry.
Others shared personal thoughts, dreams, and fears.
According to Poincheval, it felt like:
They weren’t talking to him…
But to the stone itself.
Not His First Extreme Experiment
This isn’t the first time he’s done something like this.
He’s previously:
- Lived inside a stuffed bear
- Crossed mountains in a barrel
- Stayed underground for weeks
- Floated down a river inside a sealed container
Each project pushes limits in a different way.
And His Next Plan Is Even Stranger
If he completes this challenge…
He plans to try something even more unusual.
Sitting on eggs for weeks in an attempt to hatch them himself.
Why Do Something Like This?
For Poincheval, it’s about exploring the limits of the human body and mind.
And judging by the reaction…
It’s definitely getting people thinking.
