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Archaeology & History

Stonehenge builders used "ball bearings"

By T.K. Randall
November 22, 2010 · Comment icon 18 comments

Image Credit: Jeffrey Pfau
Scientists believe the use of ball bearings may explain how the massive slabs of Stonehenge were moved.
Balls placed in grooved wooden tracks could have enabled the massive stone slabs to be moved 4000 years ago, some of the stones that make up the neolithic monument had been transported over 150 miles to the site.
Neolithic engineers may have used ball bearings in the construction of Stonehenge, it was claimed today. The same technique that allows vehicles and machinery to run smoothly today could have been used to transport the monument's massive standing stones more than 4,000 years ago, according to a new theory.


Source: Daily Mail | Comments (18)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #9 Posted by tipotep 14 years ago
Ed Leedskalnin knew how. What "theories" do modern scientists have for how he built Coral Castle? Use your search button - there are many threads here about Ed Leedskalnin , nothing to do with this thread at all The idea as is sounds possible but as Diechecker said , getting up the hills could be an issue , also didnt they have to cross lots of boggy ground ? i guess they could have had " outriggers " on the channel to stop it sinking and planks to walk on ? TIP
Comment icon #10 Posted by arjhay 14 years ago
It does seem to serve its purpose.... However i don't think people back then have those kind of wood during that time also knots and bolts to hold the wood together are not available back then they simply use what they have back then so if its ropes and other trees they need to cling to make that pivot see saw thing it will literally collapse because of the weight... I'll be pretty impressed if he can do this in the perspective during that time....not the applied physics raw material he had right now...
Comment icon #11 Posted by ShadowSot 14 years ago
Ed Leedskalnin knew how. What "theories" do modern scientists have for how he built Coral Castle? He probably used the chains, motors, and block and tackle that litter the place.
Comment icon #12 Posted by Mentalcase 14 years ago
Love the first scathing comment on the article: This video I saw on the UM Vid page a while back was one of my favorites. Kind've puts things into perspective as far as human ingenuity goes. When I saw 'ball-bearings' I thought it was gonna be the swivel technique he uses at 1:30, but the article's method seems way more practical. Thanks, that video does put it into perspective! I wouldn't be surprised to see this method used widely among ancient societies.
Comment icon #13 Posted by :PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR: 14 years ago
So, a caveman invented the wheel and a druid invented ball bearings. Good stuff! P.S. - That video is awesome!
Comment icon #14 Posted by hawk2005 14 years ago
No the stone henge was put their by satanic reptilian, giving thanks to the un creator they used that site for human sacrifice. Around 8 thousand years ago
Comment icon #15 Posted by BrandOfAmber 14 years ago
Well first and foremost I applaud the Author's use of the words 'might' and 'may have'... The theory is sound, but the problem (as usual) comes in with practical application. You simply can't build a straight rolling track over 150 miles of uncleared earth, not even now. The first step in the construction of a modern road would be to clear and level the land. Such earthworks would still be apparent, and would pave a path from the quarry to the site... Additionally, I've recently visited the Clava Cairns, which are situated near Culloden. The area was completely overgrown with trees, and was in... [More]
Comment icon #16 Posted by Thesantanafan 13 years ago
Stonehenge is crude and simple, not something one would expect from people who could come up with ball bearings. It doesn't add up.
Comment icon #17 Posted by Esk 13 years ago
That's neat! Just to clarify something though..the ''Blue John'' stones are just the lintel stones that sit on top, not the Sarcen (standing stones) they are naturally present in the locality (deposited as moraine during an earlier ice-age).
Comment icon #18 Posted by ships-cat 13 years ago
Of course, you could ALSO move the stones by getting dozens of peasants around it, and just LIFTING it by hand, and then walking with it. Stop me if I'm getting to complicated meow purr


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