seeder Posted December 18, 2013 #1 Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) There’s a 1,200-year-old Phone in the Smithsonian Collections We’ll never know the trial and error that went into its creation. The marvel of acoustic engineering—cunningly constructed of two resin-coated gourd receivers, each three-and-one-half inches long; stretched-hide membranes stitched around the bases of the receivers; and cotton-twine cord extending 75 feet when pulled taut—arose out of the Chimu empire at its height. The dazzlingly innovative culture was centered in the Río Moche Valley in northern Peru, wedged between the Pacific Ocean and the western Andes. http://www.smithsoni...l#ixzz2njrXl1DH I can just see it now, ancient Peruvians up a mountain, on the phone to those below working away... Man on phone saying "Oi, that bits not vitrified enough" . Edited December 18, 2013 by seeder 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted December 18, 2013 #2 Share Posted December 18, 2013 It wuz ALIENS!!! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 18, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted December 18, 2013 It wuz ALIENS!!! haha yeh, what else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonardo Posted December 18, 2013 #4 Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) Great find, seeder. I wish there was more like this to show "fringies" just how ingenious our ancestors were - despite their "primitive technology". Edited December 18, 2013 by Leonardo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldorado Posted December 18, 2013 #5 Share Posted December 18, 2013 It was AAT&T. (Ancient American Telephone & Telegraph Company) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keel M. Posted December 18, 2013 #6 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The old one may be too fragile to test, but surely the materials can still be found and a new one recreated for testing...? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 18, 2013 Author #7 Share Posted December 18, 2013 And... we have now a new site to look at - quote from the OP link "The sophisticated culture was eclipsed when the Inca emperor Tupac Yupanqui conquered the Chimu king Minchancaman around 1470. During its heyday, the urban center of Chan Chan was the largest adobe metropolis in pre-Columbian America. The central nucleus covered 2.3 square miles. Today, the angular contours of ten immense compounds, once surrounded by thick, 30-foot-high walls, are visible. The compounds, or ciudadelas, erected successively by ten Chimu kings, were subdivided into labyrinths of corridors, kitchens, courtyard gardens, wells, burial sites, supply rooms and residential and administrative chambers, or audiencias. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/Endangered-Cultural-Treasures-Chan-Chan-Peru.html some more images worth viewing https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Chan+Chan&client=firefox-a&hs=xg2&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=rcs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=puexUoLDGoOr7Aaz2oDYCA&ved=0CAsQ_AUoAw&biw=1280&bih=601 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 18, 2013 Author #8 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The old one may be too fragile to test, but surely the materials can still be found and a new one recreated for testing...? Yes and I find it VERY interesting they used a membrane... I mean we know tin cans work to an extent....but its the refinement of using the skin membrane I find amazing. quote The marvel of acoustic engineering—cunningly constructed of two resin-coated gourd receivers, each three-and-one-half inches long; stretched-hide membranes stitched around the bases of the receivers; 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Commander Travis Posted December 18, 2013 #9 Share Posted December 18, 2013 So basically it was the prototype for the old two-tin-cans-on-a-piece-of-string then? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OverSword Posted December 18, 2013 #10 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The old one may be too fragile to test, but surely the materials can still be found and a new one recreated for testing...? No need to test, We used to make these when I was a kid. They work great! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted December 18, 2013 #11 Share Posted December 18, 2013 So basically it was the prototype for the old two-tin-cans-on-a-piece-of-string then? Not quite,not quite... it also was the prototype of the cans.... No need to test, We used to make these when I was a kid. They work great! Yep, two cans and a piece of string. And if you can't find no cans use some plastic cups and a thin string. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. K. Posted December 18, 2013 #12 Share Posted December 18, 2013 And three days later came the first telemarketing... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 18, 2013 Author #13 Share Posted December 18, 2013 So basically it was the prototype for the old two-tin-cans-on-a-piece-of-string then? Its a bloody unbelievable find... and the string phones work best with a vibrating membrane, like a drum skin...as they have..... tin cans were never so delicate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 18, 2013 Author #14 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Damn it!! Ive just found evidence of even older phones 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSquirrel Posted December 18, 2013 #15 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I'm amazed the twine and membranes survived. If it weren't the Smithsonian, I'd be left wanting more validation. Though that first bit bothers me. I'm not very well educated in archaeology, but what are the odds of the membranes alone surviving that long? Honest question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted December 18, 2013 #16 Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) I'm amazed the twine and membranes survived. If it weren't the Smithsonian, I'd be left wanting more validation. Though that first bit bothers me. I'm not very well educated in archaeology, but what are the odds of the membranes alone surviving that long? Honest question. cured skin has survived since the stone age, If my memory does not fail me the oldest known is about15,000 years old. Edited December 18, 2013 by questionmark 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OverSword Posted December 18, 2013 #17 Share Posted December 18, 2013 I'm amazed the twine and membranes survived. If it weren't the Smithsonian, I'd be left wanting more validation. Though that first bit bothers me. I'm not very well educated in archaeology, but what are the odds of the membranes alone surviving that long? Honest question. I had the same thought, these could be photos of modern reproductions by museum staff maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedSquirrel Posted December 18, 2013 #18 Share Posted December 18, 2013 cured skin has survived since the stone age, If may memory does not fail me the oldest known is about15,000 years old. Thanks for the info, I guess my incredulity is based that I view Peru as only rainforest (I should have thought harder about the silly idea) and figured it would have rotted. I really enjoy learning, so thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Four Winds Posted December 18, 2013 #19 Share Posted December 18, 2013 That is incredibly cool, never knew about that one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JGirl Posted December 18, 2013 #20 Share Posted December 18, 2013 The old one may be too fragile to test, but surely the materials can still be found and a new one recreated for testing...? I was thinking the same thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilthor Posted December 18, 2013 #21 Share Posted December 18, 2013 Another great idea stifled by legalese and red tape... ...the service contract alone was some 33 stele slabs of fine intaglio. No app support...this list goes on and on... 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeder Posted December 19, 2013 Author #22 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) I had the same thought, these could be photos of modern reproductions by museum staff maybe? No I think its the original. Itd be very cool to make a replica and see how good it relayed voice . Edited December 19, 2013 by seeder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereologist Posted December 19, 2013 #23 Share Posted December 19, 2013 It's fascinating when there is real evidence for a technology. This is pretty sophisticated. It is easier to build and maintain and modify than laying pipes for the communications. It is also more secure. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questionmark Posted December 19, 2013 #24 Share Posted December 19, 2013 (edited) No I think its the original. Itd be very cool to make a replica and see how good it relayed voice . Pretty good, but to make a replica: you need two pieces of wood, formed as a truncated pyramid and hollowed out with a grove all around it at the smaller end, a piece of goat parchment (llama parchment also works) big enough to cover the smaller ends, two pieces of string and a thin rope. Cut the parchment so that it will cover both smaller ends,make a small hole in the center of each piece. Now douse them in water and let them soak a while. After soaking put the parchment pieces, centered, around the smaller end of the wood pieces and fasten with the string into the groove in the wood. Make sure that the parchment is tense and well tied as it will tense more once dried. Let both earphones dry for a few days. After drying put the rope through the parchment and make a knot in the end, pull the rope back so the knot sits on the parchment. Now have a friend walk the full extend of the rope keeping it slightly tense (to avoid noise) and say the magic formula: "Mary had a little lamb...." (that one worked for Edison). Have your friend report back by reciting "Twinkle twinkle little star...." to make the alien magic complete Edited December 19, 2013 by questionmark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quaentum Posted December 19, 2013 #25 Share Posted December 19, 2013 Pretty good, but to make a replica: you need two pieces of wood, formed as a truncated pyramid and hollowed out with a grove all around it at the smaller end, a piece of goat parchment (llama parchment also works) big enough to cover the smaller ends, two pieces of string and a thin rope. Cut the parchment so that it will cover both smaller ends,make a small hole in the center of each piece. Now douse them in water and let them soak a while. After soaking put the parchment pieces, centered, around the smaller end of the wood pieces and fasten with the string into the groove in the wood. Make sure that the parchment is tense and well tied as it will tense more once dried. Let both earphones dry for a few days. After drying put the rope through the parchment and make a knot in the end, pull the rope back so the knot sits on the parchment. Now have a friend walk the full extend of the rope keeping it slightly tense (to avoid noise) and say the magic formula: "Mary had a little lamb...." (that one worked for Edison). Have your friend report back by reciting "Twinkle twinkle little star...." to make the alien magic complete Aren't you forgetting the intercession by AA's since man was far too stupid to create something of such complexity. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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