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The weight of a rock


Hanslune

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Normal sized people can move big rocks (don't need giants). A question on the Megalithic traditions of Nias, Indonesia

Can anyone here make an estimation of the weight of this rock being moved?

MeQFVBI.jpg

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OReaDRi.jpg

https://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/normal-sized-people-can-move-big-rocks-a-quick-note-on-the-megalithic-traditions-of-nias-indonesia

https://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/more-on-the-1915-photographs-of-a-megalithic-stone-pulling-in-nias-indonesia

Edited by Hanslune
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6 minutes ago, Hanslune said:

Can anyone here make an estimation of the weight of this rock being moved?

 

VERY HEAVY???

Sorry, only using orange fonts today. Gotta give @danydandan a kick in the cookies....

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2 minutes ago, Piney said:

:nw:

 

Don't bow man estimate, estimate!

Three things I never do - estimate the weigh of a rock in images (it involves math, ugh), make gun cotton at home, and discuss Atlantis with farm animals.

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2 minutes ago, Piney said:

VERY HEAVY???

Sorry, only using orange fonts today. Gotta give @danydandan a kick in the cookies....

Slacker here is how to do that properly:

 

VERY HEAVY???

Edited by Hanslune
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2 minutes ago, Hanslune said:

 (it involves math, ugh)

2x2 equals 9 no matter how my autistic mind looks at it. That's why I understand concepts in physics but can't do the equations. Tis also why I never made it to full blown archaeologist. 

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8 minutes ago, Piney said:

VERY HEAVY???

Sorry, only using orange fonts today. Gotta give @danydandan a kick in the cookies....

Ouch!!!

Whats the material? What's the average size of them lads moving the rocks?

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1 minute ago, danydandan said:

Ouch!!!

Whats the material? What's the average size of them lads moving the rocks?

Look at the pics. Figure the men are about a meter and a half tall.

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I can estimate it!   

The rock is basically already marked in quarters by the wood and ropes.  Each quarter is about 4000lbs...there are 4 quarters...16,000lbs.

I'm basing that on the weight of the bottom rock of the waterfall I built with my koi pond.  It weighed about 2000lbs.

So, a good estimate I think would be between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds.

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Actually, looking at all the pics....the width of the bottom rock I used is about 2/3 the width of that rock...so increase the overall weight by 1/3....probably somewhere in the 25,000 pound range.

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Calculating the weight of monoliths
In the cases of the smaller monoliths it may be possible to weigh them. However, in most cases the monoliths were too large or they may have been part of an ancient structure so this method could not be used. The weight of a stone can be calculated by multiplying its volume and density. The density of most stones is between two and three tons per cubic meter. Basalt weighs about 2.8 to 3.0 tons per cubic meter; granite averages about 2.75 metric tons per cubic meter; limestone, 2.7 metric tons per cubic meter; sandstone or marble, 2.5 tons per cubic meter.[1][2][3][4][5] Some softer stones may be lighter than 2 tons per cubic meter, like volcanic tuff, which weighs about 1.9 tons per cubic meter.[6][7] Since the density of most of these stones fluctuates it is necessary to know the source for the stone and volume to obtain accurate measurements.[8][9]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_monoliths

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17 minutes ago, danydandan said:

Ouch!!!

Whats the material? What's the average size of them lads moving the rocks?

Hey did I say I was going to spoon fed you the answers?

Big grey rock on sled, probably wet too, pull by people who I estimate are 5'4" tall and weigh on average 128 lbs (1.62 meters and 58 kilograms).....okay, ok I made that up....

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18 minutes ago, Piney said:

Look at the pics. Figure the men are about a meter and a half tall.

Ah ok.

I reckon they are 40  - 70 tonnes.

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4 minutes ago, danydandan said:

Ah ok.

I reckon they are 40  - 70 tonnes.

Okay I was thinking 3,456,872 tons but I might be smidge off.

We may need Harte to baffle us with conic projections, Venn diagrams interspersed with snide remarks about Vergina.

Thanks to joc for his realistic estimation too!

 

Edited by Hanslune
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6 minutes ago, Hanslune said:

Okay I was thinking 3,456,872 tons but I might be smidge off.

We may need Harte to baffle us with conic projections, Venn diagrams interspersed with snide remarks about Vergina.

Thanks to joc for his realistic estimation too!

 

There a few papers that estimate 30 tonnes plus. Example below.

https://www.academia.edu/3359825/Megalithic_Tombs_Power_and_Social_Relations_in_West_Sumba_Indonesia

That is a very specific estimation you have given. Lol.

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45 minutes ago, Hanslune said:

Normal sized people can move big rocks (don't need giants). A question on the Megalithic traditions of Nias, Indonesia

Can anyone here make an estimation of the weight of this rock being moved?

https://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/normal-sized-people-can-move-big-rocks-a-quick-note-on-the-megalithic-traditions-of-nias-indonesia

https://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/more-on-the-1915-photographs-of-a-megalithic-stone-pulling-in-nias-indonesia

Conservative estimate of dimensions: 5' w x 9' l x ave 1.5' thick = 67.5 ft3  

Ave. weight of granite = 166 lbs/ft3   X 67.5 = 11,205 lbs.

Ave. weight of limestone = 160 lbs/ftX 67.5 = 10,800 lbs.

.

.

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19 minutes ago, danydandan said:

That is a very specific estimation you have given. Lol.

I learned how to make stuff up from Cladking!

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Just now, Hanslune said:

I learned how to make stuff up from Cladking!

Just get the volume and the specific gravity of the material and boom there is your answer, when you multiply the two figures. 

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Just now, danydandan said:

Just get the volume and the specific gravity of the material and boom there is your answer, when you multiply the two figures. 

Oh yeah try to shame me by being practical, logical and reasonable and making plausible useful comments......I see what you are doing here...

As Father Ted use to say: DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!

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19 minutes ago, Hanslune said:

Oh yeah try to shame me by being practical, logical and reasonable and making plausible useful comments......I see what you are doing here...

As Father Ted use to say: DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING!

Careful now!

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Just now, danydandan said:

Careful now!

Don't make me call on Father Jack to school you on decorum and polite demeanor now.

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Just now, Hanslune said:

Don't make me call on Father Jack to school you on decorum and polite demeanor now.

Well that would be an ecumenical matter!

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450x190x40cms= 3,42 cubic metres *2,5tons (average sandstone/ton per cubic meter)= 8,55tons

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22 minutes ago, toast said:

450x190x40cms= 3,42 cubic metres *2,5tons (average sandstone/ton per cubic meter)= 8,55tons

....not nit picking...ahem...but, typically we use a period not a comma....8.55 tons ;)

....or....17,100 pounds....which was pretty darn close to my original estimate...16,000 lbs.  :tu:  Good job Toast!

....

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15 minutes ago, joc said:

...but, typically we use a period not a comma....8.55 tons

I know but I used a comma. Because I`m a rebel.

Edited by toast
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