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September 17, 2008
Solved: The Mystery of Stonehenge
After watching the video above, in which retired construction worker Wally Wallington demonstrates how a single individual can raise a Stonehenge-size block of concrete using only his own ingenuity and the force of gravity, it would seem the "how" of Stonehenge is no longer a question in search of an answer.
[via J-Walk Blog and Stephen Bové]
September 17, 2008 at 02:01 PM | Permalink
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Comments
if that is how they got them up, how did they get the pieces across the top of them?
Posted by: atom | Sep 20, 2008 4:52:34 AM
Wally is impressive and certainly knows how best to use gravity, which is normally an enemy in any attempt to move large objects. However, the large Sarsen stones at Stonehenge are far from flat. They are natural blocks that have been dressed (worked) on three sides, the fourth side remaining unhewn. The stones used are also tapered towards the top and roughly pointed at the bottom to provide a pivot on which to rotate the stone into final position. If Wally really wanted to prove the method he should start with a similar item, not a precast lump of concrete.
You can find a fully interactive online 3D model of Stonehenge past and present at:
http://www.stonehengeobservatory.com
Posted by: Dean | Sep 18, 2008 8:13:01 AM
Interesting way the stones may have been erected: leverage is known and I have seen it used to explain ancient structures before, but I think this is the first that uses the object itself as the lever!
Once at an angle, the "drain sand from pit" has been around in various forms for quite a while.
But moving from place to place - that is the first time I have seen that (rotate over two pivot points) in any context - so two approaches new to me! Not sure how far it would scale up, or work on less-than-solid surface like a field, though he seems to have done quite well. Impressive. Fun to know, as well, like the rounded-tip-triangle that can function as a wheel, keeping a centerpoint level as rolled (see also the Wankel engine?).
Posted by: teqjack | Sep 17, 2008 7:14:39 PM
Very cool. I think he raises the lintel the same way he raises the columns, only higher. Then he pivots it with the rocks & brace he showed on the ground. I haven't spent any time yet looking at his website.
Posted by: Charlotte K | Sep 17, 2008 4:46:21 PM
Very cool, especially the pivoting on a rock. But I wanted to see how he raised the lintel.
Posted by: Al Christensen | Sep 17, 2008 3:28:41 PM
