I've always been fascinated by the ancient structures that appear impossible by even today's standards. I believe that they were helped structured by the Nephilim as seen in Genesis of the Old Testament. Of course as with anything in history today, there is never any proof, nor will there be.

Ancient Astronauts?
History is full of them! Just a possibility.

Originally posted by suziwong
I have put some information together about ancient megaliths - their location and weight.

These are favorites for people to discuss here in Ancient Civ.

Seemingly impossible to construct and transport -

Not really... there are websites and references by people who don't know much about ancient technology (such as the Roman use of water-powered saws) that say "we can't do this". SciFi writer, Sprague de Camp was an engineer and wrote an excellent book about ancient engineers.

I wish it were more popular today. There are many people who did close study of engineering techniques (Thor Heyderdahl comes to mind) and wrote some wonderful books on how the ancients set up stone statues and megaliths.

Has ancient knowledge been hidden or lost over time?

More like "replaced by better methods."

You'd hate (for instance) the old method of sewing, where you had a huge bone needle and had to spin your own thread. Modern needles and sewing machines and premade thread mean that most of us couldn't make thread if our lives depended on it. That doesn't mean it's impossible to make.

Did you know that the ancient Romans made cotton candy by throwing sugar by hand across a fire? T'is true... and it can be done if you practice. However, many of the "ancient wonders" people would say that this was an impossible technology back then.

A good example is "Coral Castle." In spite of there being photos on the official Coral Castle site showing Edward Leedskalnin with tools, winches, chains, and a truck bed (and written references to his moving the stone with those), some people write how it was "built by secret and arcane technology".

It's fun to think that the "ancient methods of the Egyptians" that Leedskalnin talks about were NOT the tripod and pulleys he's shown working with, and that the motors he purchased later were NOT used in moving things around. But as the pictures and other stories show, the "ancient methods" were ancient engineering methods known to the Romans and others.

So, too, with the other "ancient monoliths" (the Egyptians wrote about they moved stele such as the one you show.)

I believe your fifth one is a natural occurance-other than that, great find!

Oregon and washington have similar stones to the peruvian ones, caused by heavy rain fall over a long period of time.

Byrd,

So Ed Leedskalnin's big secret of how he built Rock Gate Park, (so big of a secret he would only work at night after scouring his property to make sure he wasn't being spied on) was the use of block and tackle, a couple of timber tripods, and some cables and chains, using common engineering techniques? Wow... what a secret.

Yet he was willing to publish an outline of his experimental observations with electromagnetism after the park was built (Magnetic Current, 1945)? And in this manuscript he talks about how to make perpetual motion holders for a perpetual motion machine, which he claimed he applied for a patent on it. Seems like a much bigger secret to keep under your hat than common engineering techniques. It doesn't make sense why he'd vehemently guard the constuction and basic building techniques but not how to build perpetual motion machines.

[edit on 21-5-2009 by Flux8]

Originally posted by Flux8
Byrd,

So Ed Leedskalnin's big secret of how he built Rock Gate Park, (so big of a secret he would only work at night after scouring his property to make sure he wasn't being spied on) was the use of block and tackle, a couple of timber tripods, and some cables and chains, using common engineering techniques? Wow... what a secret.

It doesn't make sense why he'd vehemently guard the constuction and basic building techniques but not how to build perpetual motion machines.

Straw man.

Obviously, since there are photos and records of his construction methods, he didn't try to "keep it a secret" at all.

The people "keeping the secret" are the ones trying to enrich themselves by convincing others that there is some "forgotten technology" that the Egyptians (and others) used in their constructions.

Harte

Originally posted by Harte
Straw man.

Strawman?! Stop drawing at straws.
I made an inductive comparison. The conclusion of some is that Ed used common engineering techniques and bought motors to build his castle, (Not once, but twice. Remember, he tore it down and moved it north.) My point is that Ed would not divulge his 'common engineering techniques' to anyone, yet he went on to actually publish potentially highly profitable knowledge (perpetual motion holders and machines, etc.)? It doesn't make sense, therefore there is doubt in my mind.

By the way, what documents are you refering to, and what evidence do you have to support that 'the people' created and perpetuated the 'mystery of Rock Gate/Coral Castle'? Or is that just a spurious claim?

Originally posted by Hanslune
Ed Leedskalnin had a day time job and night time is a lot cooler. Often forgotten is he worked a great deal on weekends too.

But that wouldn't be mysterious.

Could you provide a source(s) for this? I've never read/heard he had a day time job. What job was that? Also, does it really matter if he 'worked weekends'? Most accounts confirm that he worked on and off on the construction whenever he could. I agree though, it is a lot cooler at night and is a good reason to do manual labor at this time. But does that negate the possibility that there is a 'mystery' to his construction techniques?

[edit on 23-5-2009 by Flux8] Edited to combine responses and fix some typos

[edit on 23-5-2009 by Flux8]