Stone Age building techniques

[Doug Martin]

I ran across this video today of a man building a replica of Stonehenge using nothing but weights and levers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0

It's pretty amazing.  

his website is http://www.theforgottentechnology.com/ but it is partially broken.

Hope this isn't too off-topic but I thought everyone might be interested.

[Amanda_931]

I can barely do Mark Fiore animations on dial-up (especially if I failed to stop itunes from downloading a podcast ).  So I think I'll pass on that guy's video.

But yes, certainly it can be done.

The idea would be useful for posts for post and pier foundations, things like that.  Not just decoration, or sacred spaces.

Rob Roy got interested in that subject, led some workshops, wrote a book.  Which, last time I looked was on sale from Chelsea Green, his publisher.  On sale, but not what I'd call cheap.  Alibris or some of the amazon used book vendors might have it for less.

http://www.chelseagreen.com/1999/items/stonecircles

[glenn-k]

Very interesting  - I saw a bit of this somewhere but didn't see him move the building.

[jraabe]

Ingenious!! Rotating huge weights on a stone pivot. Rocking a beam back and forth to gain height and using a pivot point to stand a beam upright. All done by one man without any metal tools - just a brain and the normal human strength of an overweight grandfather.

[mark_chenail]

I will never be able to bitch again about the weight and trouble of setting a 6x6 post again.  That really is a fantastic piece of work.

I recently saw a show on Discovery that theorized that the Egyptians raised the huge stone obelisks using kites and the gusty wind off the desert.  They actually managed to do it after several tries.  Our ancient ancestors were probably a lot smarter than we ever thought.

Thanks for the post.  Absolutely inspiring.

[jerseydave]

Impressive

[glenn-k]

This seems to fit here.

This is a stone stairway made by the Chinese mine laborers in about 1860 or there about.



The step rocks go under the back wall for stability.  The woods around this area are covered with foundations and retaining walls.  Fortunately the owner of this site has a great respect for history and is taking good care of it all.

[Amanda_931]

Interesting.

Makes my tire steps look like, well, um, uh.  I don't know what.  But not something done with great respect for materials and structure.

Which reminds me, I need to do something about the erosion next to a set of tires that I'm going to claim that C.B. Barker started by running after squeaky bones.