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Scientists Unearth Urban Center More Ancient Than Plato
The New York Times ^ | December 2, 2003 | JOHN NOBLE WILFORD

Posted on 12/01/2003 9:25:02 PM PST by sarcasm

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To: Ramius

Yah know, some years ago I saw someone try lifting a large (pyramid construction size) stone block using wedged, lever and building a ‘lincoln log’ style frame under it as the stone went up.

The experimenter thought it wasn’t a good way to do it, but I don’t think he wast going about it properly. That is he was using whatever odd size of wood they had lying around and it was their first crack at doing this.

I would bet good money that if properly squared timbers were used, and a crew of men had a chance to practice and master the technique, a huge stone block could be raised rather easily.

It seems to me that if you can raise a block five feet and then pull it forward five feet, you can raise blocks in a staircase fashion as high as you please.


21 posted on 03/08/2012 10:54:47 PM PST by El Sordo (The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.)
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To: Ramius

That should have read “wedges and levers”

It was a Nova special on ancient construction, I think.

It was a while ago.


22 posted on 03/08/2012 11:13:47 PM PST by El Sordo (The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.)
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To: El Sordo

Yep... I’ve seen the same thing. It may have been the same guy that used some relatively simple balance points to manhandle huge blocks of stone all by himself.

Back then they knew all about levers. They had the wheel and axle, they had ropes. They could easily have built large machines for handling big stones. I’d bet that if we could go back in time and see how they really did all this stuff we’d be amazed at what they did... and how really simple it all was.


23 posted on 03/09/2012 7:58:24 AM PST by Ramius (Personally, I give us one chance in three. More tea anyone?)
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To: SunkenCiv

I need to learn to read.

My first thoughts on “reading” the title? “Older than Pluto... the dog or the planet?”


24 posted on 03/09/2012 11:10:44 PM PST by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: Grimmy

:’) Wait, you mean it’s *not?!?!*


25 posted on 03/10/2012 6:46:59 AM PST by SunkenCiv (I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him)
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26 posted on 08/24/2021 7:46:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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