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Stone shifting 4

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GordonP G
GordonP Sep 7, 2003 10:07:14
Replying to Steve Gray

Hi Steve
6 levers, one man on each lever on the tower holding each lever in position, ropes leading from the end of each lever to ground level, that's 6 ropes, 5 men hauling on each rope, that's 30 men times 11, equals 330 men.

Place two logs on top of the tower at right angles to the face of the stone, fix another log across these two for a fulcrum. lever the stone up, say 6 inches, pack chalk behind the stone against the face of the hole. The stone will then stand supported by the back face of the hole as before. Slide the three logs forward 6 inches and repeat. Keep repeating the proccess until the stone is upright. Less power will be required with each lift as the stone moves towards 90 degrees.

The top of the tower serves as a working platform to lever the stone upright, we can even fit safety rails on three edges of the tower to satisfy modern requirements, the stone it'self forms a safety barrier on the remaining side.

As the working platform follows the stone and extends away from the tower we can fit support legs.

N nigelswift
nigelswift Sep 7, 2003 10:30:28
Replying to GordonP

This is a bit beyond me but I’m going to be away today so I thought I’d post one thought – if a way can be found to do both, i.e. levering from the back and using Steve’s pole at the front, that would be all to the good as Steve’s pole could be reduced to more manageable proportions and by using both, we may have an excess of available power, which we may find useful if there’s an unforeseen snag. And “All together” feels like a more authentic approach as well.

So far as Gordon’s wish to keep much the same equipment as was used in stone rowing, well the only extras would be the net (which would have been available to them) and Steve’s pole which we know they definitely had, lots of them. There'll still be a lot of pure rowing in the process - the stone and the log and maybe the lintel. Also, Gordon, is it practicable/useful to row the stone to make it "walk the plank"?