Evidence of Ancient Technology
I recently found a number of Web pages with information pointing to the existence of technologies used in ancient times that rival those we have today. Although one might conjecture where these originally came from (Atlantis? Aliens?), the bottom line is that these are technologies that were actively being used by human beings. Regardless of source, we humans have had the smarts and the savvy to use technologies that until recently were considered the provenience of only we modern folk.
As C. Wilfred Griggs says in one of the articles cited below, "The story tells us how sophisticated ancient people really were. Sometimes our cultural arrogance gets in the way of our being able to appreciate how people from other cultures and times were able to also think and act in quite amazing ways. The story has so many ramifications for how we look at the past. It also tells us how little we truly know."
Read and marvel!
- An ancient Egyptian mummy has an iron pin attaching a limb:
- The Antikythera device, found off the coast of an island near Crete, is the earliest known computing machine. This device dates to the first century BC. It was once thought that the type of complex gearing found in this device was not invented until centuries later.
- Heron of Alexandria invented a number of devices we tend to think of as modern, including a steam-powered device, an odometer, devices that propelled themselves and made noises like thunder crashing, and a multitude of others.
- The "Ancient of Days" referenced in the Bible may have been a manna machine
- Maybe the ancient Egyptians were cleverer than many people want to give them credit for. Read about the Celtic Cross and its use as a construction and navigation device.
There is much, much more to be found, but I know how it is when I find a set of fascinating links. One link leads to another, all of which I want to pursue further, and yet I also want to want to check out the initial set of links as well. On the assumption that you may have the same curious bent of mind, but a lack of desire to be overwhelmed, I will keep the initial set short for your viewing pleasure.