Construction of the Pyramids: Ramps

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by exchemist, Nov 6, 2018.

  1. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    I thought this was interesting new evidence to support the hypothesis that the Egyptians used ramps to lift the block to the height needed: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...ows-light-on-mystery-of-pyramids-construction

    Two new points:

    1) the presence of post holes, possibly signifying that ropes could have been passed around them to allow those below the block to help those above to pull it up, and

    2) the unexpected steepness of the ramp, which would have greatly reduced the volume of material needed to make it, compared to what had previously been assumed.

    The two findings are nicely complementary, making the ramp method considerably more efficient than had been thought up to now.
     
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  3. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    Do we have any evidence that the Egyptians used pulleys?
     
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  5. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    History seems to suggest pulleys were not invented for another few millennia.

    It's possible that might be an overreach or just sloppy wording in the article.

    Ropes around posts would still help with moving blocks, even if they didn't actually use pulleys.
     
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  7. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    They may have used rollers and parbuckling.
     
  8. exchemist Valued Senior Member

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    Yes I took it to mean they just passed the ropes round posts and pulled on them.
     
  9. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    So not pulleys.
     
  10. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    perhaps
     
  11. Dinosaur Rational Skeptic Valued Senior Member

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    In the absence of finding Some document describing the construction, we can only make educated guesses.
     
  12. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    That's not true. There is physical evidence.
     
  13. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    Axled wheels - the prerequisite for a true pulley - apparently did not yet exist, or if they did lacked sufficient development, for pulleys of the kind necessary. Egypt may have had pottery wheels and the like, but for heavy work this seems to have been the cutting edge tech: https://egyptianpulley.com/photo-and-sketches
     
  14. Gawdzilla Sama Valued Senior Member

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    Absence is evidence of absence.
     
  15. gmilam Valued Senior Member

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    Several years ago I read something about "petrie rockers". The only reference I can currently find is:

    http://www.gigalresearch.com/uk/partenaires-gigal.php

    (Bottom of page)

    Has anyone else read about these? It made sense to me, but I may be missing something.
     
  16. DaveC426913 Valued Senior Member

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    I saw a guy move an entire house by himself with just a fulcrum. He walked it across his farm, to demonstrate that the Egyptians could have done it.
     
  17. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    Paul Hai has a web presence.
    In addition to calling this a "pulley", which it is not (it is a parbuckling technique), and the reliance on the steps (leaving a critical phase of the construction of smooth sided pyramids unexplained), the following detail increases wariness:
    The lifting effort would be nearer 900kg than 90.
    But it is a clever idea, and within the known tech capabilities of the time.

    Some guy has calculated that during construction the builders were installing a block of stone every five minutes, on average, for thirty years.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
  18. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    I think what is interesting is say in the case of the great pyramid if they worked 24/7 for 20 years we find that approx 14 blocks need to be quarried transported and laid each and every hour for that 20 year period...or if forty years 7 an hour 24/7.
    Busy busy busy☺
    Or are my numbers wrong.
    Alex
     
  19. sculptor Valued Senior Member

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    we know so little
     
  20. sideshowbob Sorry, wrong number. Valued Senior Member

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    Archeologists have found the workers' city: https://www.livescience.com/28961-ancient-giza-pyramid-builders-camp-unearthed.html
    "Based on animal bone findings, nutritional data, and other discoveries at this workers' town site, the archaeologists estimate that more than 4,000 pounds of meat — from cattle, sheep and goats — were slaughtered every day, on average, to feed the pyramid builders."​
     
  21. el es Registered Senior Member

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  22. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    Thanks.
    Alex
     
  23. Xelasnave.1947 Valued Senior Member

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    They probably had ramps on all sides simply to accomodate the numbers of stones being laid...you could think.
    Alex
     

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