Comments on: Stone Masonry and Engineering at Machu Picchu: No Aliens Needed

By: MSH

MSH — Tue, 08 May 2012 05:23:47 +0000

I’m just asking for a coherent argument that *requires* an alien explanation. It isn’t an unreasonable request.

By: Joan

Joan — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:24:29 +0000

Michael, i understand your viewpoint. But again, you are asking for an explanation without coming to your own. You want X to be something X is not. Evidence and truth comes in all shapes and forms. You must realize that. In this day and age, logic implies that if the universe is as infinite as it is presumed to be, then so are the possibilities. Perhaps the ancients did build every single monument, but not without guidance. You simply cannot ignore the primitive age they lived in. Is it mere coincidence that ALL civilizations speak of these entities and have provided an abundant source of scientific evidence that state and depict it? Their design structure somehow resembles one another even though they had no knowledge of the next or were on opposite sides of Planet Earth. Do not forget, this vast space we inhabit has more to it than meets the eye. It has physical and spiritual aspects therefore pragmatism only goes so far. Let us take this trip together. This is the last you will hear of me. Farewell Michael, my brother, my friend.

By: MSH

MSH — Sun, 06 May 2012 20:55:44 +0000

Yes, they had some wonderful technique that we don’t know today. So how are aliens necessary? Please, tell us how alien involvement MUST be the case. Otherwise, to connect this to ancient astronauts is indeed a non sequitur — a conclusion that does not follow. (“We don’t know the ancient method for doing X, so X must have been done by aliens, or aliens taught humans to do X” — never mind the fact that, in our own day and age we have not been able to provide one piece of scientific evidence that aliens even exist).

By: Joan

Joan — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:45:47 +0000

The finish is as equally important an aspect of the entire process as the quarrying and stone cutting is, when considering the age the Incas lived in (1500 B.C.). It speaks volumes of the knowledge they possessed. Knowledge that was nonequivalent to that period in time. Understanding the finish undoubtedly means comprehending it all. Allow me to educate you.
The quarry for the red sandstone was 10 Kilometers away from the city. The green Andesite stones that were used to create the most elaborate carvings and monoliths originate from the Copacabana peninsula, located across Lake Titicaca (90 Kilometers away). A remarkable distance considering that the largest of these stones weighs 131 metric tons.
Once successfully quarried, it is thought that the Incas laboriously “dragged” these stones or ferried them on mere reed boats to the construction site. The river cobbles which “could” have been used as “hammerstones”, Jean Pierre Protzen describes in his stonecutting “theory”, are hardly a match against the sheer magnitude of the Andesite stone. Hence his failed experimentation to replicate such a precise and geometrical procedure.
Simply put, modern machinery would have a very difficult time carrying the smallest stone. Let us not delve into the topic of how they went about tempering and placing these gargantuan monuments in position. Or even the actual purpose of their construction. Such conjecture is unnecessary, although i am more than willing to elaborate once you respond to my “non sequitur” reply.
What truly plagues the ancient astronaut theory is your inability to generate an original explanation concerning the subject. I must say, i am inclined to completely disagree with you my presumptuous friend.

By: Ragnell

Ragnell — Sun, 06 May 2012 03:19:24 +0000

I can imagine someone around 1600 bce: “It is obvious that evil spirits helped Rome construct great buildings such as the Coliseum and Pantheon using pagan mortar. Our God-fearing master Stonemasons cannot begin to replicate, nor would they wish to replicate, such Satanic construction.”….

By: MSH

MSH — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:35:24 +0000

That the finishing is not understood does not mean (a) that the quarrying and cutting is not understood (it is), or (b) that aliens were involved. Your post illustrates the non sequitur thinking that plagues the ancient astronaut idea. The technology is human, though not *completely* or “perfectly* understood.

By: Joan

Joan — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:34:42 +0000

“But to obtain the smooth finishes, the
perfectly planar faces, and exact right interior and exterior
angles on the finely dressed stones, they resorted to techniques
unknown to the Incas and to us at this time”. – This is from the Jean Pierre Protzen, “Who Taught the Inca Stonemasons Their Skills? A Comparison of Tiahuanaco and Inca Cut-Stone Masonry”. An excerpt from your own resource.

By: MSH

MSH — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 06:55:21 +0000

I’m not sure what this has to be with ancient engineering – ?

By: Faithhead

Faithhead — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 20:09:46 +0000

The power of Jesus gives man the power of many men.
Faith in Him allows the dead to rise and the stones of many tons to be lifted!

Through the power of prayer alone I have gained wealth and power.

Jesus did all these things for me!

By: MSH

MSH — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 03:50:37 +0000

There’s nothing to explain (why would we be surprised at their fascination with this?) There are several posts on the blog on this (see under the “Pyramids” subject; archaeoastronomy is cool stuff; and it’s all naked eye work). Examples (read in this order):

http://michaelsheiser.com/PaleoBabble/2010/05/new-scholarly-paper-on-archaeoastronomy-and-pyramid-alignment/

http://michaelsheiser.com/PaleoBabble/2010/07/more-on-pyramid-alignment/

http://michaelsheiser.com/PaleoBabble/2011/09/a-new-old-journal-article-on-the-great-pyramids-celestial-alignment/