Stonehenge 181
Image by The Eternal
Stonehenge

Stone shifting 5

Steve Gray S
Steve Gray Sep 17, 2003 10:13:50
Replying to GordonP

Yes, you are quite right, levering off a strut at 90 deg does not produce a side load and as you continue levering the angle will decrease so that a vertical load is produced, which the tower can absorbe quite happily. However, the struts would have to be quite long (40 feet?) for a 24 foot tower and would need to be moved and re-anchored between each levering operation because they must always act at the fulcrum point in order to achieve the 90 deg requirement.


As I said before, I'm not "against" or "for" any particular method. I think that ALL theories need to be considered and then we reject those which don't stand up to scrutiny. Those that remain are candidates for testing.

I have to go out now, so this will be my last post for a few hours. I'll catch up later.

G GordonP
GordonP Sep 17, 2003 11:13:25
Replying to Steve Gray

No need to move the fulcrum point, as the stone is levered up less leverage is required for each stroke, so slide the lever further down the stone with each lift. The fulcrum point remains the same and the angle remains the same.

Just to prove to myself that I too am remaining open minded, I've just been out on the lawn testing the long pole idea. I used a scale model real stone 1in to the ft, a 40in dowel, some string, 2 dining forks, assorted heavy hand tools and Eileens prized hanging basket.

My report: At this scale it works like a dream.

Do I like it? No it just don't feel right, I don't think that's how it was done, levers barely figure at all, the people who built Stonehenge were like me, a bit simple.

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