Results of the Russian LAH Group Expeditions

[Harte]

As for Obsidian being only used for ornaments, a) that's just your opinion and b ) well that's the big mystery, if they had some other function then, why use Obsidian and Mountain Crystal.

"But what kind of technology?" - Exactly what everyone wants to know!

"Transition is in the eye of the beholder, and while there is some cross over with some materials, knappable lithics and other hardstone work require completely different techniques from each other and are by no means mutually exclusive. The crystal as I said falls into the former category as well and still shape-able by abrasion like any other stone." - Shape-able yes, perfectly symmetrical, this is where we differ in opinion. I have seen some very beautifully done hand made works which I can however with difficulty say that they were hand made. Nearly perfect. However, there are always some kind of imperfections left by a working tool, usually deep in the crevases. And then there are other objects like the Obsidian monkey jar http://www.mexicolore.co.uk/index.php?one=azt&two=flo&id=502&typ=reg at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, perfect in every respect.

People have been polishing obsidian down to an extremely fine finish for a very long time:

Among the intriguing finds at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in central Anatolia are a few polished obsidian artifacts believed to have been used as mirrors.

SNIP

In conclusion, there is abundant archaeological evidence for grinding and polishing stone to make tools and ornaments. No technological innovation was required before obsidian mirrors could be produced. While the only raw materials available locally to the ancient inhabitants of Çatalhöyük were clay, lake-bed marl, grasses, and animal hide, at some distance, the Tarus Mountains to the south and several volcanoes in other directions, could have been the sources of materials suitable for grinding and polishing obsidian.

Source: Archaeology Magazine

Harte

[Oniomancer]

If it's new sub-topics that's lacking, here's another one for the interim. In the first video, We're shown in one instance a block of Egyptian limestone with a surface discoloration that shows in cross-section. The narration suggests this to be the results of some unknown working process occurring when the block was cut.

It has been noted by other members of this forum on other threads relating to the age of the Great Sphinx that limestone is especially susceptible to chemical weathering over time purely from exposure to the atmosphere. Said weathering manifests as a discoloration and change in texture and hardness extending some ways into the rock.

[questionmark]

People have been polishing obsidian down to an extremely fine finish for a very long time:

Source: Archaeology Magazine

Harte

To add, even extreme hard materials like Dolerite has been successfully polished by troglodites:

These are two specimens you can find at the Hunt museum and were found in Limmerick Ireland.

[Oniomancer]

To add, even extreme hard materials like Dolerite has been successfully polished by troglodites:

They did a marvelous job with jade too.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/pe_prb/j/jadeite_axe-head.aspx

Edited April 23, 2012 by Oniomancer

[MMXX]

1. If you see something in the sky and don't know what it is...it's the aliens!

2. If you see an ancient structure and have no idea how it was built...the aliens built it!

3. If you see a dead cow somewhere and have no idea how it died...the aliens killed it!

This is the way it has always been, and will always be.