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Ball bearings used to build Stonehenge

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tjj T
tjj Nov 18, 2010 17:44:59
Replying to moss

moss wrote:
Its only another theory but interesting nevertheless.......

"Scientists showed how balls placed in grooved wooden tracks would have allowed the easy movement of stones weighing many tons."

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/8675263.Ball_bearings_used_to_build_Stonehenge_says_expert/?ref=rss

It seems the first known use of the wheel was in Mespotamia in 3,500BC
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm
Did wheel technology make it to Britain by the time Stonehenge was built? Because if the wheel wasn't being used then ball bearings seem a little sophisticated. There was a theory a while back that the stones were rolled on logs - seems more feasible.

T ToneStone
ToneStone Nov 18, 2010 17:54:19
Replying to tjj

Yeah logs and animal fats in experiments have shown that sarsens could be moved the same distances as the ball bearing theory is claiming.

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Nov 18, 2010 18:44:12
Replying to tjj

tjj wrote:
moss wrote:
Its only another theory but interesting nevertheless.......

"Scientists showed how balls placed in grooved wooden tracks would have allowed the easy movement of stones weighing many tons."

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/headlines/8675263.Ball_bearings_used_to_build_Stonehenge_says_expert/?ref=rss

It seems the first known use of the wheel was in Mespotamia in 3,500BC
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm
Did wheel technology make it to Britain by the time Stonehenge was built? Because if the wheel wasn't being used then ball bearings seem a little sophisticated. There was a theory a while back that the stones were rolled on logs - seems more feasible.
It's not the 1st of April is it? The theory of ball bearings between two 'planks' sounds good but let's just stop and think about it a minute. Firstly, you have to chop down a huge tree with a stone axe. Then out of that tree you make very precise planks shall we say 12" wide by 4" thick, again with a stone axe...then you have to chop out the grooves for the stone bearings to run in , again with a stone axe. Now bearings only work between two 'tracks' if they are absolutely precise. Are you going to get that with a stone axe. NO WAY!
If we had come up with that idea we'd be laughed at!!