Re: Route of the Sarsens. | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Wiltshire 25

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Route of the Sarsens.

GordonP Feb 14, 2008 16:52:39

Replying to jimit

Hi Jim
Vincent has spent more than 30 years studying the Inca stuff and devised a way to move heavy stones up ramps which have insufficient space for dragging on rollers (nowhere for the pullers to stand) and insufficient space at the side for stone-rowing.

He builds a track and lays 4 inch dia rollers across the track leaving a space of perhaps 9in between each. Each of these rollers is tied to the track rails and sledge is placed on top of these cross members. More rollers (cross members) are then fixed to the sledge again at 9in centres and the stone placed on these cross members. Vertical levers can then be inserted behind each of the cross members that are fixed to the sledge and the ends of these levers are slid in front of the cross members which are fastened to the track. Push these vertical levers forward and the sled and stone slide forward.

It's slower than stonerowing (the stone is not actually picked up) but brilliant in a confined space.

Anew Feb 19, 2008 09:16:53

Replying to GordonP

If one is willing to consider animal fat, [please see GordonP's post of
13th February 2008ce at 09:20], a wet lubricant -- one would also want to consider chalk dust, a dry one

If one is willing to consider rollers, and vertical leverage, one may also want to consider what seems a natural combination of these -- the horizontal-axis, stationary, torque-multiplying draw-wheel ... It could, (if they approached the problem this way), have been no more complicated in principle than a substantial round tree-trunk laid across the track at the top of the escarpment, (or the top of one of its pitches), suitably cradled so that it could turn without moving ... It would, (i imagine), have been built up at its center, (which the workers would attempt to rotate by pulling on rope), so as to create a continuous mechanical advantage in their favor vis-a-vis that part, (off-center), from which ropes would run down to the stone ... If the center were to be built to a radius of 6 feet, and off-center the radius were to be 8 inches, they should enjoy 9:1 (minus friction at the cradle) ... This may (or may not) also help explain the entrenching of the ramp -- as it could have been felt to give the wheel firmer and smoother support than a scaffold of some kind

If the stones were flat on the bottom, there doesn't seem an urgent need for a sledge to transport them, but a rope hammock ... If on the other hand the stones had irregularities, they would want a layer of chalk dust at least as deep as the stone's 'relief' in order to keep it from catching on firmer material below ... At some point this layer may have been thrown from the trench, (to one side), by those who wished to use it for travel