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Getragdogleg
Original Poster
3,725 posts
53 months
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I was watching a documentary about the intricate joints in the stones of Machu picchu and it was postulated that the builders knew of a plant extract that could soften rock so it could be shaped and then washed away after to leave a hard accurate joint. looking at some of the amazing joints they managed to make I can see why this has been suggested. is it possible that this is another bit of lost knowledge ? http://tilakdutta.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/inca-st...
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Seeker UK
882 posts
28 months
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The close fitting rocks have often been cited as proof of lost knowledge and / or ancient astronaut intervention. Actually, it's a bit of a trick and only the fronts are the exact tight fight, the rest is loosely cut and could be easily acheived with stone cutting tools http://indra.com/~davide/IncaWalls/Index.htmlIt means that Incas were clever but not that clever.
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Westy Pre-Lit
4,416 posts
73 months
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Halb
18,113 posts
53 months
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I know some of the blocks are pretty big in those American mountains. Wally Wallington is a man who has shown how to move large blocks. He is an interesting fella, him and that Leedskalnin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wally_Wallington
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Simpo Two
54,618 posts
135 months
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Getragdogleg said: I was watching a documentary about the intricate joints in the stones of Machu picchu and it was postulated that the builders knew of a plant extract that could soften rock so it could be shaped and then washed away after to leave a hard accurate joint. Rock can be dissolved by acid, so maybe some plant could be mashed down/fermented into some kind of acid, but I can't see it being very strong. Maybe it was done by skill, practice and manual dexterity. They never thought of that eh?!
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Elderly
1,449 posts
108 months
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I'm not demigrating what the Incas did but don't forget that M.P. was probably built around the middle of the 15th century, whilst some of Europe's much more sophisticated Cathedrals were built some 250 years before that time.
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Halb
18,113 posts
53 months
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They are impressive, they would have been staggering at 2450 metres above sea level. 
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Westy Pre-Lit
4,416 posts
73 months
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Elderly said: I'm not demigrating what the Incas did but don't forget that M.P. was probably built around the middle of the 15th century, whilst some of Europe's much more sophisticated Cathedrals were built some 250 years before that time. The crucial differences being the transportation of the quarried stone, the sheer size of the block work used and handled, the type of stone used in the construction and the tools and equipment used. The Incas built in a totally different league, which is probably the reason why we still can't say for sure how they did it.
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Oakey
13,830 posts
86 months
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M5 Russ
1,645 posts
62 months
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I always found Edward Leedskalnin and his Coral Castle fascinating. To this day his building methods are not understood. It appears he took his secret to his grave and as far as I can tell, no one has yet come up with an answer as to how he exactly managed to build a 1100 ton castle on his own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Leedskalnin
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Ayahuasca
16,233 posts
149 months
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Amazing that the Inkas were able to make walls like this this:  but neither they (nor any other American culture) developed the wheel.
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Odie
3,702 posts
52 months
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I reckon they just did it by eye and experience, just imagine some of the guys building these walls did it for 50-60 years straight after that amount of practice they could probably just do it.
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Simpo Two
54,618 posts
135 months
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Pah, Presscrete!
All you need is a hammer and chisel, and a good eye and time. Some cultures can get overly obsessed with things - consider Easter Island where they were so busy fighting over big statues they ran out of food.
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Ali G
830 posts
152 months
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Elderly said: I'm not demigrating what the Incas did but don't forget that M.P. was probably built around the middle of the 15th century, whilst some of Europe's much more sophisticated Cathedrals were built some 250 years before that time. Totally agree with this - many of the cathedrals were built pre MP and are much more sophisticated. However, the Incas were only around for a relatively short time (150 years?) MP is not necessarily the finest example of there stone technology - sacsayhuaman at Cuzco may be better and more accessible. Some very large stones there! These were NOT built by little green men! As an aside, the structures built by the sophisticated Spaniards have been far less able to withstand the earthquakes which regularly hit the area. Peru remains and enigmatic and hugely fascinating country with a very ancient culture (possibly the very first cities on the planet) Recomend anyone (with a head for heights) to go and have a look at!
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Ayahuasca
16,233 posts
149 months
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Ali G said: Peru remains and enigmatic and hugely fascinating country with a very ancient culture (possibly the very first cities on the planet) And some of the best food in the world!
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Westy Pre-Lit
4,416 posts
73 months
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Elderly
1,449 posts
108 months
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Ayahuasca said: And some of the best food in the world! My bowels, and those of my travelling companions would take issue with that statement
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Use Psychology
9,938 posts
62 months
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Ali G said: Elderly said: I'm not demigrating what the Incas did but don't forget that M.P. was probably built around the middle of the 15th century, whilst some of Europe's much more sophisticated Cathedrals were built some 250 years before that time. Totally agree with this - many of the cathedrals were built pre MP and are much more sophisticated. However, the Incas were only around for a relatively short time (150 years?) the technology available to the Incas was way more primitive than that available to medieval europeans...
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Halb
18,113 posts
53 months
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Use Psychology said: Ali G said: Elderly said: I'm not demigrating what the Incas did but don't forget that M.P. was probably built around the middle of the 15th century, whilst some of Europe's much more sophisticated Cathedrals were built some 250 years before that time. Totally agree with this - many of the cathedrals were built pre MP and are much more sophisticated. However, the Incas were only around for a relatively short time (150 years?) the technology available to the Incas was way more primitive than that available to medieval europeans... I also think the fact it is 2450 metres above sea level puts it ahead.
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Ali G
830 posts
152 months
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Ayahuasca said: And some of the best food in the world! Guinea pig pizza.. Alpacca and chips .. Not forgeting Inca Cola - lovely yellow colour - and given how they like their 'tea' who knows what its got in it 
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