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     Extreme Masonry:  (Extreme feats of masonry from the ancient world)

Link to Ba'albek, LebanonLink toTiahuanacoLink to StonehengeLink to Abydoss.

The myth of a primitive society of megalithic builders is being gradually dispelled by discoveries from various disciplines. Apart from the self-imposed endurance of the physical extremes associated with transporting and fitting stones weighing several hundred tons each in places, the megaliths, pyramids and other prehistoric structures are examples of a human relationship with stone and offer a glimpse into the mind of the builders, through which we see a common human potential to conceive, engineer, and create the most unique, and majestic structures possible thousands of years in the past.

Featured Articles:

(Scroll down for more)

 

 

Building with Large Stones: Megaliths.

The word 'Megalith' derives from the Latin 'Mega' and 'Litho' meaning 'big' and 'stone'. The fact that these megaliths are found all around the ancient world illustrates that the use of large stones was, in itself considered an important factor to the prehistoric builders.

 

Using large stones is one thing, but when we come across stones weighing hundreds of tonnes (when smaller stones would have been far more ergonomically efficient), it becomes clear that the size of the stone was a key factor in the process of construction. The use of enormous stones such as those seen at Baalbek, Giza, Stonehenge, Carnac, Jerusalem etc etc, reveal a level of organisation and skill that has (naturally) reduced people to debate and disbelief in the past.

 

Link to Ba'albek, LebanonBa'albek: One of the largest carved stone ever, weighing over 1000 tons, was left  finished by the constructors of in the quarry. The technical abilities of the builders of the Ba'albek platform are equally matched by their engineering confidence which required them next to manoeuvre the stones uphill and fit them accurately into place. The inflicted difficulties of such a labour provide an insight into the confidence of the builders, their conviction and their purpose.

(Click here for more about Ba'albek)

(Click here to see the largest stones of all time)

 

The Giza Plateau: One of the most commonly quoted examples of the use of large stones is at the 'Great pyramid' of Giza, in Egypt, where over  2 million stones with an average weight of 2.5 tonnes were used to build the 'Great' pyramid. (The largest stones of the Great pyramid have been estimated at around 70 tons (6), However, apart from this obvious feat of 'extreme masonry', there are several other equally astonishing physical feats to be seen at Giza.

  • The largest stone at Giza is estimated to weigh around 468 tons (5), and can be seen in the wall of the temple east of the second pyramid (Khafre's). Other limestone blocks weighing 200 tons can be seen in the wall of the Valley temple, next to the Sphinx.

  • The Pavement limestone beneath the pyramids was levelled to an accuracy of within 0.8 inch across the whole Giza complex (5)..

The use of large stones is repeated again and again all over the ancient world, leading one to ask: Why ?

The most common suggestion is that larger stones provide a structure with increased stability and durability, which in essence is true, but the excessive size of some stones when balanced against the additional time, effort and manpower suggest that other factors may be involved.

(More about the Giza plateau)

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The confidence of the megalithic builders worldwide to work with such unnecessarily large stones is surpassed only by their determination to transport specific stones over long distances to previously selected sites.

 

Transportation of stone over long distances.

Another common occurrence, visible at several megalithic sites, is the transportation of specific stone over long distances. It suggests one of two things (or both):

  • The location  of the structure was more important than the type of stone used.
  • The type of stone was more important than the extra labour incurred transporting it.

There are several good examples of stone having been transported over long distances:

  • Stonehenge - Bluestones transported over 200miles from the Prescilly mountains in Wales.
  • Le Grande Menhir Brisé, Carnac - The menhir was transported over a minimum of 50miles.
  • Great pyramid, Ghiza - The Granite was transported over 500km from Aswan.
  • Ollantaytambo, Peru - Granite stones transported 7miles over mountains and valleys.

It is interesting to note that at all the examples above, Granite was the transported stone. Granite was also the common choice of stone for most of the European megaliths, and for several prominent, visible parts of the early dynasty pyramids. This tends to suggest that the qualities of the granite itself were of importance to the megalithic builders.

In the Boyne-Valley complex in Ireland, the stone material used in the major passage mounds of Newgrange and Knowth come from several sources, two of which are approximately 40km south and 35km North east of the monuments (Cooney. Antiquity. 2000: 135-8) in these cases, megaliths became " a transported landscape in which structural elements were extracted, carried and re-assembled to link together physically places that had been distant" (Cooney. Antiquity. 2000: 136)

The stones transported long distances to build megaliths have been described as 'pieces of places'  (10)

At Vale de Rodruigo, in southern Portugal, geological analysis were carried out at the stones used in four megalithic graves. The results were surprising as the stones had been brought to the site from different locations of up to 10km distance. Geological research suggests that this choice was probably predominantly motivated by functional and practical reasons. As different rocks had different appearances and physical characteristics it is suggested that they were chosen according to a pre-conceived design. In addition, the locations of the sites of origin of the different material represents main celestial directions from the megaliths. This makes it likely that the monuments also represent certain symbolic values associated with the landscape and certain cosmologies. (10)

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The specific selection of granite was not restricted to prominent structures, but can be seen across the whole of megalithic European. It is clear that the qualities of granite were important to the megalithic builders - but Why?

 

The Specific Selection of Stone types.

While it is apparent that the megalithic builders showed a preference for certain stone types, the reason for this has yet to be explained satisfactorily. The extra distance and effort required to employ specific stones in ancient structures offers us with a clue as to the possible aspirations of the builders.

As noted above, the pyramid builders at Giza went to great lengths to include granite in their sacred buildings, transporting it hundreds of miles in preference to the more readily available limestone. At Giza, we can see that granite was used for the lower levels of casing blocks on both Menkaure and Khafre's pyramids, whilst in the Great pyramid of Khufu, it is found only on internal features (plugs, girdle stones, antechamber portal stones, kings chamber). The selection of features for which granite was chosen reveals something interesting: namely, that it was not just used structurally. So, at the same time as recognising that granite is a stronger stone, there are other reasons why granite was selected for use in sacred structures. This supposition is supported by evidence from other megalithic structures, for example:

At Newgrange in Ireland or example, we are told that while the mound was built from 280,000 tons of river-rolled stones, but that the builders also chose to travel 50 miles to the coast to collect the white granite stones that are were used to make up the face of the mound. (Guide)

The specific use of white quartz is repeated at several other megalithic sites such as :

The two 15-ton portal-stones at Castelruddery, also in Ireland.

 

Although the area surrounding Stonehenge is littered with perfectly suitable sarsen stones, the builders chose to use over 80 Bluestones instead, requiring them to transport them over 200 miles from the Prescilly mountains in Wales. It is perhaps relevant then that a piece of bluestone was found in almost every one of the 59 Y and Z holes (8). At Stonehenge, the specific selection of stones was continued to the slaughter stone which, while all the other stones were either sarsen or bluestone, it alone is made of a sandstone laden with Mica (8).

Quartz = Crystal.

The idea that quartz had a significance beyond its strength alone is reinforced by the several findings of crystals in funerary remains (dating back to Palaeolithic times). It is also common to find 'significant' stones at the European megaliths either made entirely of granite or having quartz seams in them, for example:

Boscawen-Un, in England is a granite circle of 19 stones, and was suggested by W. Stuckley as having been one of the first circles in UK. (The 19 stones being suggestive of the 18.6yr lunar cycle). Although the whole circle is composed of granite stones, there is a single white quartz stone at the S/SW of side the circle (aligning the centre with the May-day sunrise).

At Balquhain stone circle (and Bannau Sir Gaer), in Scotland the builders chose white granite for the outlying stones.

At Glenquickan, also in Scotland, a white granite obelisk was placed in the centre of the circle.

And at the Hurlers triple circle, the centre of the circle was coated with a bed of quartz crystals.

All of the above examples highlight the fact that granite (or perhaps crystal), was considered to have special qualities other than just strength. Records show several examples of crystals and quartz being placed alongside funerary remains (a feature that can be traced back to Palaeolithic times), a fact that raises the question of whether or not the megalithic builders were were aware of the other physical properties of crystal.

The qualities of crystal.

It is a curious fact that when a crystal is placed under pressure it produces electricity. Experiments by Marcel Vogel, a research chemist for IBM over 27 years, suggest that water can act as an electrolyte and pick up charge from a crystal with which it comes into contact. Measurements by spectrophotometer, an instrument for comparing light radiation, show changes in the 'atomic footprint' of water before and after exposure in this way. Paul Devereaux began the 'Dragon project' in order to research this particular aspect of the megaliths.

(More about crystals in prehistory)

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Extreme Egyptian masonry

It is not surprising that the occasional eyebrow is raised when we are confidently informed that the Egyptian pyramids, the last remaining 'Seven Wonders' of the ancient world, were constructed by people from the 'Neolithic' period. Apart from the fact that eight 'Memphite' pyramids were supposedly constructed in under 100 years, we are faced with numerous traces of applied mathematics, science and technology within structures that have no precedent.

 

The Giza Plateau - It is often forgotten that before the pyramid was built, that the limestone plateau beneath was first levelled, and over it was placed a platform of carefully cut stones which can still be seen to protrude from under the pyramids base. This platform is around 0.5m thick and despite the passing of time and several earthquakes, remains level to within 0.8 of an inch (21mm) over a distance of over 13 acres (5).

(More about the Giza complex)

 

  • The whole of the Great pyramid was originally covered with a coat of polished limestone blocks (left). The faces of these blocks have butting surfaces cut to within 1/100 of an inch of mathematical perfection. Petrie said this of it:

...'the mean variation of the cutting of the stone from a straight line and from a true square is but 0.1 inch in a length of 75 inches up the face, an amount of accuracy equal to the most modern opticians' straight edges of such a length. These joints, with an area of some 35 square feet each, were not only worked as finely as this, but were cemented throughout. Though the stones were brought as close as 1/500 of an inch, or, in fact, into contact, and the mean opening of the join was 1/50 of an inch, yet the builders managed to fill the joint with cement, despite the great area of it, and the weight of the stone to be moved- some 16 tons. To merely place such stones in exact contact at the sides would be careful work, but to do so with cement in the joints seems almost impossible'. (7)

 

There are several extraordinary sized stones recorded at the Ghiza plateau, with the largest regularly estimated at over 400 tons....

 

Temple East of 'Khafres' Pyramid.

'Largest stone estimated 468 ton block' (11).

 (J. Cook; The Pyramids of Giza; p. 22). - 'Khafre foundation stones > 400 tons'.

 

 

Mortuary temple of Menkaure (Mycerinus).   

[Edwards, p. 265] -  200 tons

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/ - 285 tons

'Reisner estimated that some of the blocks of local stone in the walls of the mortuary temple weighed as much as 220 tons, while the heaviest granite ashlars imported from Aswan weighed more than 30 tons'.

Ref:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Menkaure)

Valley temple.(Ancient-wisdom.co.uk)

 

 

The 'Valley Temple' - The Valley temple was built from huge granite blocks in the style of the Osireion at Abydoss. They are estimated at around 50 tons + each. The whole temple in turn was encased in even larger limestone blocks, the largest of which has been (enthusiastically) estimated at around 200 tons.

 

 

 The 'Great' pyramid of Khufu - The 'Kings chamber' in the Great pyramid is covered over with several granite stones estimated at 50-70 tons each. The Gable stones over the entrance (left) and several of the stones covering the descending passage are also several cubic metres in size.

Maximum weight of stone in great pyramid:

(Guinness, p. 119). 50 tons

(R. J. Cook; The Pyramids of Giza; p. 22).70 tons

 
 
The seamless joins between blocks - The builders of the pyramids also cut granite stones with almost perfect precision to fit side by side with their neighbours (i.e. the Kings chamber). With each stone being of a different size, it was a remarkable achievement to say the least. It is currently believed that the stones were prepared at ground level, then lifted into position.
 

The seam between the basalt and the limestone pavements.

(Extreme Egyptian masonry)

 

The Enigma of Puma-punka, Bolivia  (Door of the Puma):

 -  The nearby structure known as the Puma Punka is still littered with giant, precisely shaped blocks, many of which weighing appear machine made. The port of Tiahuanaco, called Puma Punku or "Door of the Puma," which appears to have once been a wharf with a massive four-part building, is now an area filled with enormous stone blocks scattered around the ground like matchsticks, with several weighing between 100 and 150 tons.  One block still in place is frequently estimated to weigh 440 tons.

The quarry for these blocks was on the western shore of Titicaca,  ten miles distant and the means or purpose of transporting such large stones is still a mystery.

(The Top-50 Stones)

'A story was told by the local Aymara indians to a Spanish traveller who visited Tiahuanaco shortly after the conquest spoke of the city's original foundation in the age of Chamac Pacha, or First Creation,  long before the coming of the Incas. Its earliest inhabitants, they said,  possessed supernatural powers, for which they were able miraculously to lift stones of off the ground, which "...were carried [from the mountain quarries] through the air to the sound of a trumpet'. (1)

(Other examples of Sonics)

It has been suggested that there is evidence of basic machining at Puma-punka, as the following photo demonstrates:

A close inspection of the stone above reveals that there are regularly spaced drill marks in the precision-cut 6mm groove

One of the most interesting things to have transpired about the site is that many of the immense blocks were built as if from a template, and amazingly appear to interlock as the picture below illustrates. Such a discovery flies directly in the face of all our concepts of the construction skills of the ancients. With no previous examples of masonry at such a sophisticated level, nor on such great scale leaves one to wonder at the confidence and skills of the designers and masons.

 

(Left) Illustrating the sophisticated way in which the Puma-punka stones fit together. (Right) A wall of the Akapana pyramid shows the same modular feature. (3)

(More about Tiahuanaco)

 The 'Rough Guide' to ancient sites from around the world.

References:

1). David. D. Zink. The Ancient Stones Speak. 1979. Musson Book Co.
2). Cesar Paternosto. The Stone and the Thread. 1989. University of Texas Press.
3). G. Hancock. Heaven's Mirror. 1998. Michael Joseph Publ.
4). J. N .Lockyer. The Dawn of Astronomy. 1964, M.I.T. Press.
5). http://www.geopolymer.org/archaeology
6). A. Service & J. Bradbery. Megaliths and their Mysteries. 1979. Macmillan.
7). D. Trump and D. Cilia. Malta: Prehistory and Temples. 2004. Midsea Books.
8). Petrie as quoted by Smyth, Our inheritance in the Great Pyramid, 1890 Ed, pp20.
9). C. Dunn. The Giza Power Plant. 1998.
10). Kalb, Philine, Megalith-building, stone transport and territorial markers; evidence from Vale de Rodrigo, Evora, south Portugal. Antiquity. Sept 1, 1996.

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