Stonehenge 181
Image by Zeb
Stonehenge

Stone shifting 5

FourWinds F
FourWinds Sep 15, 2003 12:04:37
Replying to nigelswift

Using frozen ground as an aid for moving the stones has been mooted several times in the past.

It especially ties in with doing the work during the winter months when farming activity would have been at a low.

S Steve Gray
Steve Gray Sep 15, 2003 13:36:35
Replying to FourWinds

Snow/ice will certainly reduce the friction on the stone and therefore make it easier to drag. However, there are two downsides: firstly, there is less braking friction, so the stone is harder to control on slopes and secondly, the friction under the feet of the haulers will be reduced by a similar amount (I haven't heard of any Bronze Age crampons being discovered) ;o). A ramp woul dhave to be constructed from solid ice blocks. I don't think heaped up snow would be strong enough for a 40 tonner.

Nice idea, though.

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