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On Proving Ancient *Megalith **Construction*
by Jim Solley
Last changed: 05/14/2005, 14:45:26
*Abstract*
*Coral Castle is an unsolved *megalith* whose *construction* can be
proved using only information found on the Internet. This article gives
the proof and establishes a link to a scientist's general theory of
*megalith **construction*. *
*Table of Contents*
_1 Introduction_ <#1 Introduction|outline>
_1-1 The principle of parsimony_ <#1-1 The principle of parsimony|outline>
_1-2 Standard for proof_ <#1-2 Standard for proof|outline>
_1-3 Obstacles_ <#1-3 Obstacles|outline>
_1-3-1 First obstacle_ <#1-3-1 First obstacle|outline>
_1-3-2 Second obstacle_ <#1-3-2 Second obstacle|outline>
_2 Models_ <#2 Models|outline>_ _
_2-1 Second obstacle removed_ <#2-1 Second obstacle removed|outline>
_2-1-1 The gate_ <#2-1-1 The gate|outline>
_2-1-2 Four ways_ <#2-1-2 Four ways|outline>
_2-1-3 Hypothesis conceived_ <#2-1-3 Hypothesis conceived|outline>
_2-1-4 Evidence supporting gate *construction*_ <#2-1-4 Evidence
supporting gate construction|outline>
_2-1-5 Gate *construction* procedure_ <#2-1-5 Gate construction
procedure|outline>
_2-1-6 Perfect hole_ <#2-1-6 Perfect hole|outline>
_2-1-7 Undiscovered entities_ <#2-1-7 Undiscovered entities|outline>
_2-1-8 Substitutes_ <#2-1-8 Substitutes|outline>
_2-1-9 Smoking gun_ <#2-1-9 Smoking gun|outline>
_3 The Temple of Jupiter_ <#3 The Temple of Jupiter|outline>
_3-1 Confusion in the quarry_ <#3-1 Confusion in the quarry|outline>
_4 General Theory of *Megalith **Construction*_ <#4 General Theory of
Megalith Construction|outline>
_4-1 First obstacle removed_ <#4-1 First obstacle removed|outline>
_4-2 Closing Argument_ <#4-2 Closing Argument|outline>
FAQ <#FAQ|outline>
List of Figures
1 Ed standing with a hoist <#Frame1|graphic>
2 Ed using a hoist <#Frame2|graphic>
Acknowledgments
GOD ? Without HIS help in many various ways, this could not have
been written.
1 Introduction
This section includes brief explanations of the principle of parsimony
and the standard used to measure the quality of proof. These two
important tools will be used throughout the article. Next, two obstacles
to proving Egyptian pyramid *construction* are identified. Section 2 is
the main body of the article that focuses on removing one obstacle.
Section 3 discusses the heaviest stones ever lifted by ancient man.
Section 4 summarizes, establishes a link to a scientist's general theory
of *megalith **construction*, and focuses on removing the other obstacle.
For convenience the terms /hypothesis/ and /theory/ are treated as
synonyms, and the term /pyramids/ refers to the Egyptian pyramids.
1-1 The principle of parsimony
?Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate.?---William of Ockham
The above quote is known as the principle of parsimony or Ockham's
Razor. It translates as /pluralities should not be multiplied without
necessity/. It means that truth is most often simple and lies are most
often complex.
When several theories are proposed to solve the same problem, parsimony
states that the simplest that gives the most complete and satisfying
explanation has priority to be studied in detail as it is the most
probable. If during study the simplest theory is found to be flawed,
then it is excluded, multiplying pluralities becomes necessary, and the
next simplest theory gains priority to be studied, and so on.
When problems go unsolved for long periods of time, this is the prime
clue to beware of deception. Deception means that there is missing
and/or misleading information. Deception causes problems to be solved
incorrectly or not at all, and it plays no favorites; all can be
deceived. To overcome deception, the missing and/or misleading
information must be discovered.
A useful technique for overcoming deception is to do what a rat does
when it becomes stuck at the end of a maze. It turns around and moves in
the opposite direction rather than remaining stuck and starving to
death. Thinking in terms of things being precisely the opposite of what
is seen or expected is the equivalent of turning around and moving in
the opposite direction.
For example, if an attempt is made to tighten a left-threaded bolt by
always turning it clockwise, it will be impossible regardless of how
long it is turned or the number of people who attempt to help. After
turning the bolt for a while without success, the clue for deception is
present. If the bolt is then turned in the opposite direction, the
missing information about the direction of the threads will have been
found, and the impossible will have become trivial.
If the clue for deception is present, parsimony suggests that we should
cease searching for the simple truth, turn around, and begin searching
for the most complex suspect we can find. If it is a lie, it will
present us with our best chance to trip it. But parsimony offers no
guarantee of success, and parsimony is not proof. It is a valuable tool
of reason that is useful as a guide for conducting efficient and orderly
work.
1-2 Standard for proof
Proof comprises completing all steps of the following pattern in any order.
1.
A hypothesis must be conceived.
2.
Evidence must be available to support it.
3.
All opposing hypotheses must be excluded.
4.
It must be demonstrated.
Example 1: A hypothesis is conceived that a modern overhead crane was
used to construct the pyramids. It can be demonstrated, and it would
exclude all opposing hypotheses because ancient man would have used it
and saved himself a great deal of effort, but no evidence has ever been
found to support this hypothesis. Step 2 is incomplete, and the
modern-overhead-crane hypothesis remains unproved.
Example 2: Long ago it was hypothesized that the world was flat.
Supporting evidence was that increasingly steeper slopes would be
encountered during travel if the world were curved, and soon we would
slip off. Without opposing hypotheses steps 1, 2, and 3 were complete,
but it would have been necessary to find an edge to complete step 4. No
edge was ever found, step 4 was never completed, and flat remained
unproved. This is an example of deception. Virtually everyone was
deceived by missing information about gravity.
Example 3: In the fifteenth century a hypothesis was conceived that the
world was round. Supporting evidence was that as ships sailed beyond the
horizon and irrespective of their direction of travel, the last thing
visible was the tips of their sails. Flat and round are mutually
exclusive. Demonstrating that the world is round automatically excluded
flat. All steps were completed, and round was proved.
At the pyramids, however, there are many hypotheses that can complete
steps 1, 2, and 4. Automatic exclusion is impossible. In a case like
this, the means to complete step 3 is to unbalance step 2. The correct
hypothesis must present substantial amounts of high quality evidence
that overwhelms the evidence of all opposing false hypotheses, and it
must be a judgment made by a jury as to what comprises overwhelming
evidence. Everyone is on the jury for pyramid *construction*.
1-3 Obstacles
1-3-1 First obstacle
The first obstacle to proving pyramid *construction* is that the
pyramids are inaccessible to virtually the entire human population
including most scientists. Quarries have been closed and the pyramids
are off limits to ?protect? them. Without access we have zero chance to
prove them, but the reason why this is so isn't readily apparent.
Inaccessibility forces us to synthesize ideas. We begin with known facts
that ancient man used hand tools and natural resources. There are many
of each. These become our alphabet. Now we must forward engineer a means
for him to build the pyramids using our alphabet, but many words can be
made from an alphabet. Synthesis has caused many different theories to
be put forward as to how the pyramids were constructed. The flaw in this
strategy is that even if we are successful developing a demonstrable
theory, there is no guarantee that our theory is the one that was
actually used. We are guessing, yet that is all that we can do. It's as
though we are crime scene investigators who are not allowed to take
samples back to the lab to test for DNA. We are expected to find a DNA
match using our eyes. It isn't that we can't prove how the pyramids were
constructed. It's that we aren't permitted to. Failure is forced upon us
by inaccessibility.
The proper means to determine how the pyramids were constructed is not
to synthesize ideas to build pyramids, but to analyze evidence to
determine how they were built. We want to reverse engineer them. We
begin with the pyramids and work backward. We want to take them apart to
study. We want to perform scientific tests and measurements on them. If
data from our analysis becomes sufficient, a hypothesis is formed. As
more evidence is discovered and analyzed, our hypothesis is adjusted as
necessary to fit the evidence. When sufficient evidence has been found
and a stable theory developed, it may be possible to prove it because no
ideas have been arbitrarily synthesized.
While it is impossible for anyone to prove the pyramids unless they have
access and permission to perform physical analysis, Coral Castle can be
reverse engineered and proved to the conceptual level without access
because crucial evidence is present that is missing at every ancient
*megalith*.
1-3-2 Second obstacle
The *construction* phase follows architectural design, surveying, and
layout. In chronological order, four events that comprise the
*construction* phase of many megaliths are:
1.
Quarrying
2.
Transporting
3.
Lifting stones atop supporting structure
4.
Precision *construction*
The second obstacle to proving pyramid *construction* is that no models
(a proved theory) have been accepted that show how ancient man performed
events 3 or 4 where weights of stones rival or exceed those used in the
pyramids. Models are needed because they dramatically increase confidence.
Because these problems have gone unsolved for a long time, the clue to
beware of deception is present. Parsimony suggests that we should search
all megaliths for the most complex block of stone we can find that has
events 3 and 4 among its characteristics and whose weight rivals or
exceeds that of the stones used in the pyramids.
Vertical work is the study of all characteristics of a single *megalith*
while ignoring other megaliths. It is the traditional means used to
minimize confusion. Most interested persons choose one *megalith* to
concentrate their study. Horizontal work is the study of one or more
specific characteristics of interest across many megaliths while
ignoring other characteristics. This is an alternate means to minimize
confusion. Vertical and horizontal work are analogous to columns and
rows of a table where columns represent megaliths and rows represent
specific characteristics. The obstacle will be removed by studying rows
of characteristics.
2 Models
2-1 Second obstacle removed
Coral Castle is the youngest unsolved
*megalith*. All four events of the *construction* phase are present plus
celestial alignments and various shaped stones. It has been examined by
countless numbers of visitors and has been studied by scientists and
engineers from around the globe, yet it has remained unsolved for many
decades. The clue for deception is present.
Coral Castle is located in Homestead, Florida. It was built by Edward
Leedskalnin in the early part of the twentieth century. Ed was a
stonemason who weighed 100 pounds. He worked under cover of darkness
using lantern light to assure that he would not be seen. He used only
hand tools and a simple hoist. The average weight of his blocks of coral
stone is 12,000 pounds. The average weight of the blocks of limestone
used in the casing of the Great Pyramid at Giza is 5,000 pounds. Ed did
not own an automobile, and there was no electricity at Coral Castle. He
claimed that he knew the secrets of *construction* of the pyramids. He
was a recluse who passed in the early '50s without ever disclosing his
secrets.
Ancient stonemasons built the pyramids using large rocks. A modern
stonemason built Coral Castle using larger rocks. *Construction* of both
are mysteries. Thus, there is a potential connection between Coral
Castle and the pyramids, but Ed's claim to know their secrets is invalid
if he used resources that ancient man could not have used or substituted.
In one creation Ed did use resources that ancient man could not have
used or substituted. It is the most complex suspect. It was chosen ahead
of rival complex suspects at ancient megaliths because deception is a
documented fact at Coral Castle, and information sufficient to prove how
it was constructed is available on the Internet.
2-1-1 The gate
The nine-ton gate is the most complex block of stone at Coral Castle. It
has been lifted atop supporting structure, and it was constructed with
extreme precision.
The Coral Castle website reports that this 18,000 pound gate is so
perfectly balanced that it can be opened with the simple push of a
finger. It closes to within a quarter inch on either side of the frame
opening. It broke in 1986. Six men and a 50-ton crane were needed to
remove and repair it. What they found was that Ed had mounted it using
an iron shaft and truck bearing. He drilled an almost perfect round
eight-foot hole through the exact center of gravity of the gate using
only hand tools. Today a laser-guided drill bit would be used to achieve
such extreme precision. When reinstalling the gate, state-of-the-art
adhesives were used.
2-1-2 Four ways
There are four different ways that could have been used to build the
gate. Three of them will be excluded. They are:
1.
Ed was assisted by intelligent beings such as aliens.
2.
Ed discovered or invented an anti-gravity force or machine.
3.
Ed built Coral Castle using hoists. At least three photographs
exist that show different large tripods that Ed built. Hoists are
attached to them. It is obvious that Ed used hoists to lift the
large stones, but there is a problem with this. Scientists and
engineers have studied Coral Castle, and they know everything
there is to know about hoists. It makes no sense that they can't
determine how Ed used hoists unless the fourth possibility is
considered which is partly responsible for the belief that the
solution is anti-gravity.
4.
Ed built Coral Castle without using hoists. If true, then the
following would happen. Scientists and engineers would visit Coral
Castle, see photos of the hoists, and try to determine how Ed used
them, but they haven't been successful. That alone tells us that
Ed did not use hoists. Suppose an owner of the correct theory that
doesn't use hoists visits Coral Castle. As soon as s/he sees the
hoists, s/he will believe that their theory must not be applicable
to Coral Castle. S/he'll leave and forget about Coral Castle.
Thus, it would make no difference whether someone owns the correct
theory or not. Coral Castle would not be solved by anyone who
believes that Ed used hoists. If Ed built hoists that he didn't
use and allowed us to see them, then there can only be one purpose
for them.
2-1-3 Hypothesis conceived
Deception of the misleading kind is the sole purpose of Ed's hoists. The
photograph in Figure 2 <#Frame2|graphic> shows that the tripod has no
wheels. It would have been impossible for Ed to use this hoist to
transport building material from his quarry to the creation under
*construction*.
Frame1
Figure 1. Ed standing with a hoist
Frame2
Figure 2. Ed using a hoist
The mechanical advantage (a multiplier of effort) of a hoist equals the
number of chain segments ascending from its movable block. The Figure 2
photograph is unclear, and it is easier to see those segments as they
descend from the fixed block of pulleys at the top rather than as they
ascend from the movable block at the bottom. Six segments can be seen.
If Ed grasped the fall of this hoist and suspended himself by hanging
from it, then his 100 pound body weight would have been multiplied by 6,
and he would have been exactly balanced with a 100 X 6 = 600 pound
stone. For him to be able to lift a stone, its weight must be less than
600 pounds. Because it was impossible for him to have lifted more than a
few hundred pounds with this hoist, the photograph in Figure 2 was
tampered, or the stone being lifted was a hollow shell that weighed only
a few hundred pounds.
Some theories recognize that the stone in Figure 2 can not be lifted by
Ed and his hoist alone. They synthesize the idea that Ed could lift the
stone with the hoist if he used a motor hidden in the mysterious box at
the top of the tripod, but there is no room for such a motor, no drive
pulley and chain for it, and no infrastructure to supply the substantial
amount of power needed for it to lift such heavy weights. There is no
evidence to support a motor. Nevertheless, if Ed could somehow lift the
stone with the hoist, it would still be impossible for him to move it to
the creation under *construction*. Because Ed's hoists are useless for
*construction* of Coral Castle, they are a grandiose, well-staged, and
effective attempt to deceive us.
?When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however
improbable, must be the truth.?---Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
It was impossible for Ed to use the hoists, and it was impossible for
him to lift and transport an 18,000 pound block of coral stone all at
once. These are eliminated. The only remaining possibility, however
improbable, is that he lifted and transported the gate a piece at a
time. He crushed coral stone, added water, and made mud, clay, cement,
or concrete. Then he lifted and transported 18,000 pounds of liquid or
semi-liquid material a bucket at a time. Mud, clay, cement, or concrete
henceforth will be collectively identified as /ancient cement/.
Ancient cement is a general concept, not a specific formula. To
determine Ed's exact formula requires hands-on testing and analysis of
Coral Castle stones by experts, but the /giant-mud-pie/ concept having
been used in Coral Castle *construction* is proved in this article. For
convenience the terms /ancient cement/ and /man-made stone/ will be used
interchangeably.
/Man-made blocks of coral stone/ is the hypothesis conceived for
*construction* of Coral Castle's nine-ton gate. Hypotheses based on Ed
using hoists are excluded. Step 1 is complete. Steps 2 and 3 are
partially complete.
2-1-4 Evidence supporting gate *construction*
Matter in nature exists in one of three states. It is a solid (ice), a
liquid (water), or a gas (steam). When water freezes and becomes ice or
ice melts and becomes water or water boils and becomes steam, these
kinds of changes are described as /change of state of matter/. This is a
fundamental principle of science that has the potential to be deceptive.
Ancient cement relies upon this principle. When change of state of
matter occurs, there are /before/ and /after/ states. Ice (the solid
/before/ state) melts and becomes water (the liquid /after/ state).
If we see an ice tray filled with water and placed in a freezer, when
the water becomes ice cubes there is no deception because we saw both
the /before/ and the /after/ state. We have all of the information, and
we understand how the liquid water became solid ice cubes. Even if we
didn't see the /before/ state, there would be no deception because we
are familiar with ice cubes. We would know what happened. If we see
cement poured and cured (hardened), there is no deception because we saw
both states. If we only saw the /after/ state, we would know what happened.
This hypothesis claims that Ed used ancient cement and allowed it to
cure, but he modified it to make it appear to us as though it were
natural coral stone. Ed controlled the texture of his ancient cement and
added misleading tool marks on some of his creations. He embedded shells
and did everything necessary to convince us that his blocks of coral
stone were natural. The hoists assist in convincing us that the stones
are natural.
The only way our brains normally get information is through our five
senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. If Ed is able to
convince our five senses that the stones are natural when, in fact, they
are man made, then our senses can only mislead us. We would be missing
information about the liquid /before/ state but couldn't know it because
the /before/ state no longer exists, and our senses couldn't detect that
it ever did exist. We would only have the misleading solid-/after/-state
information. The potential deception of change of state of matter
consists of both missing and misleading information.
Ed combined ancient cement with another fundamental principle of
science: /A liquid holds the shape of its container/. For example,
flavored liquid gelatin poured into a mold is the same shape as the
mold. After the gelatin sets and is extracted, it still holds the
precise shape of the mold. This principle of science is primarily
responsible for Ed's precision *construction*.
Ancient cement would have simplified Ed's quarrying problem and solved
his transportation, lifting, and precision *construction* problems all
in one fell swoop.
Coral stone is another of Ed's many deceptions. It seems only to be an
innocently convenient building material indigenous to the area, but Ed
would have known the properties of his chosen building material. Coral
stone is rich in /calcium carbonate/, the primary chemical compound used
in modern cement manufacture. The lower left of this Bamburi Cement LTD.
web page shows that they use
coral stone for their source of calcium carbonate.
Ed worked in lumber camps prior to building Rock Gate Park, his
deceptive choice of a name that, following his passing, was changed to
Coral Castle. He was exposed to woodworking techniques in those lumber
camps.
After Ed passed, his tool collection was examined. It included many saws
and drills. If Ed's need for many saws and drills was to facilitate
making forms (wooden containers analogous to gelatin molds) for use with
ancient cement, then that would explain the presence of a scattering of
over-sized half-ton chairs at Coral Castle that have no tool marks
on them. If they
were carved, then tool marks should be present, but absence of tool
marks is normal when using forms and cement.
Coincidentally, there are no tool marks on the remaining casing stones
of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
2-1-5 Gate *construction* procedure
Ed had stonemason skills, woodworking skills, hand tools, and natural
resources. These are the same things that ancient man had. He built the
nine-ton gate using those plus an iron shaft and a truck bearing. To
show feasibility, *construction* would have been something like the
following.
WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS. NO LIABILITY IS ACCEPTED FOR ANY CONSEQUENCES
RESULTING FROM FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
This procedure is based upon using homemade ancient cement that contains
no gypsum which means that it does not set fast like modern commercial
cement. Given that the gate frame was already constructed, Ed snapped
two chalk lines on the diagonals across the top interior of the frame.
He marked the exact center where the chalk marks crossed, attached a
plumb bob to that mark, dropped it, and marked the bottom. Using the top
and bottom reference marks he installed the iron shaft and truck bearing
correctly centered and perfectly vertically aligned. He placed shims
such as small ball bearings on the bottom of the frame and surrounding
area. Next, he placed two boards atop the shims, one on each side of the
shaft. The parts of the boards that were adjacent to the truck bearing
had cutouts that matched the diameter of the bearing. Using these boards
as the base, a wooden form shaped like the gate was built around the
shaft. It was built perpendicular to and slightly wider than the frame
opening.
Following form *construction* Ed filled it with ancient cement. When the
cement was cured he removed the form. He shaved the ends of the gate
until it would close to within a quarter inch of the gate frame opening
and changed its appearance to conceal that it was man-made stone.
*Construction* was complete.
2-1-6 Perfect hole
In the fifteenth century evidence existed both for and against a flat
world. To settle the contest, further investigation was required that
did not rely upon observing tips of sails of ships on the horizon nor
the knowledge that we would slip off of a curved world. More evidence
was needed.
Coral Castle presents our eyes with natural stones. This hypothesis
claims they are man made. To settle the contest, further investigation
is required that does not rely upon looking at the stones with the
unaided eye nor the knowledge that man-made stone would trivialize Ed's
*construction* problems.
Ed's perfect round eight-foot hole through the exact center of gravity
is the deception within the gate itself that trips it and confirms that
it is man-made stone. The Coral Castle website reports that a
laser-guided drill bit would be needed to achieve this level of
precision, but Ed only had hand tools. Therefore, he had no means /to
drill/ a perfect hole, yet there it is. Here is where more evidence is
found, and it is the absence of stone---a hole.
If the diameter of the hole was a tiny fraction too small, the shaft
wouldn't pass through. If the diameter was a tiny fraction too large,
then it could not be claimed that it rivals the precision of a hole
drilled by a laser-guided drill bit.
To achieve perfect balance of the gate, the shaft must be sturdy, must
be mounted perfectly vertical, and must be perfectly matched to the
hole. That is all. The hole does not have to pass through the exact
center of gravity of the gate because the truck bearing supports the
gate from beneath and the sturdiness of the shaft prevents it from
toppling or listing irrespective of the weight distribution around it.
To clarify the previous paragraph, imagine a door in your home that is
supported with one long hinge that runs the full length. There is a
matching hinge pin. The exact center of gravity of the door is located
somewhere near its middle, but the hinge is located at its edge. Because
the hinge is sturdy, vertical, and the hinge pin perfectly matches the
hinge, the door opens easily, is perfectly balanced, and stays wherever
it is placed irrespective that all of the door's weight is distributed
on one side of the hinge. If a large segment of the door was sawed off,
the location of the center of gravity would change, but the segment that
remained attached to the hinge still would be perfectly balanced. Thus,
once the gate was initially balanced, Ed could shave the ends and make
any and all other changes he deemed necessary without further concern
for balance.
During gate repair state-of-the-art adhesives were used to assure that
the remounted gate would hold a perfectly-vertically-aligned position.
Following repair, however, the gate never again worked as well as it did
before it broke.
In sub-subsection 2-1-4 <#2-1-4 Gate construction procedure|outline>
where *construction* of the gate is described, the shaft was easily
mounted perfectly vertical as there was no weight on it when it was
mounted. Ed could take all the time he needed to be certain of correct
mounting, and no hole was drilled. The liquid cement surrounded the
shaft, closed tight against it, and cured. During gate repair when the
shaft was removed, Mother Nature's perfect round eight-foot hole was
found, and a laser-guided drill bit couldn't do a better job.
Steps 1 and 2 are complete. What remains to complete step 3 is to
exclude undiscovered entities.
2-1-7 Undiscovered entities
An undiscovered entity is something that might exist but can't be
demonstrated. In the case of *megalith **construction*, all undiscovered
entities fall into one of two categories. The first is intelligent
passive beings. The second is unintelligent active forces and devices.
The first category includes aliens, time travelers, and Merlin the
Magician. These are intelligent beings who would have performed the most
difficult or all of the work for Ed. They are passive because we can't
pursue them. We must wait for them to reveal themselves. Intelligent
passive beings is the simplest theory possible as nothing could be
simpler than someone else doing the work. This theory offers complete
and satisfying explanation. Parsimony states that this is the first
theory to study. There is evidence to support the existence of a number
of intelligent passive beings, but there is no evidence that they ever
built anything, and none can be demonstrated.
The second category includes energy grids, magnetics, power from the
Bermuda Triangle, anti-gravity machines, and transporter beams. These
are forces and devices that have no intelligence. Ed would have been
required apply his own intelligence to discover or invent and use them.
The additional pluralities of Ed having to apply his own intelligence
and perform the work makes them more complex than intelligent passive
beings. Members of this category can be actively pursued, but as we have
no idea how complicated they will be or what Ed would have needed to
invent or discover and use them, we can't prove whether they were used
until we have them. If they were within Ed's reach, then unintelligent
active forces and devices is the next simplest theory. It offers almost
full and satisfying explanation. Parsimony states that this is the next
theory to study. There is evidence to support the existence of various
members of this category, but again there is no evidence that they were
used to build anything, and none can be demonstrated at a level
necessary for them to be used to construct megaliths. The few devices
that can be demonstrated at some level require substantial
infrastructure to support them such as megawatts of power. When
pluralities of infrastructure are added, device theories that may have
started out simple quickly become complex. Force theories that do not
require infrastructure keep their simplicity, but none have been
demonstrated at a level necessary to participate in *construction* of
Coral Castle.
We can't prove that undiscovered entities don't exist, but we don't have
them now. Because we can't prove they don't exist they can never be
permanently excluded. Because we don't have them now, they can be
temporarily excluded. They will be given a rain check and will be
temporarily excluded until they are discovered, invented, or reveal
themselves.
Should aliens appear, admit they built Coral Castle, and demonstrate,
then the ancient cement hypothesis will be excluded. At that time we
will learn why they wanted to help Ed, and during the demonstration we
will learn why it took beings who are capable of interstellar travel 28
years to build Coral Castle.
When energy grids are demonstrated that are capable of building the
nine-ton gate AND if it can be proved that Ed invented or discovered
them, then the ancient cement hypothesis will be excluded because Ed
would have used them and saved himself a lot of work. If he had energy
grids, however, we'll have no explanation as to why he built the large
hoists. We'll have no explanation as to how he made the perfect hole
unless energy grids also can be used for making perfect holes. We'll
have no explanation why pry marks exist on a number of Ed's blocks of
stone. We'll have no explanation as to why he didn't patent or offer to
reveal them for an enormous sum instead of spending 28 years at hard
labor. Thus, energy grids, anti-gravity devices, and other members of
this category do not offer entirely satisfying explanation for Coral
Castle *construction*.
Temporary exclusion is fair, and it is essential. There was a time when
it was thought that Earth stood still at the center of the Universe. In
the early part of the sixteenth century Mikolaj Kopernik's verifiable
mathematical calculations demonstrated that Earth orbits the Sun and
that the center of the Universe is located somewhere near the Sun. Later
it was discovered that Earth is located in an obscure part of an obscure
galaxy that is a vast distance from the center of the Universe. Science
is forever at risk of change from future discovery. When undiscovered
entities can be proved, old ideas will be replaced. Meanwhile it is
traditional and customary that science accepts that which works best
until something better is available. Without temporary exclusion and
this tradition, science would become a permanent hostage of the future
and the concept of proof would be meaningless.
2-1-8 Substitutes
Ed used deception to construct Coral Castle. We couldn't see him
physically working. Neither could we see ancient man physically working.
With assistance from Mother Nature, ancient man had the capability to
substitute unintentional deception for Ed's deliberate deception.
Stonehenge is a good example of how millennia of exposure to the
elements would have assisted accidental deception.
Evidence (second question and answer)
has been found in
prehistoric peat bogs that proves ancient man was highly skilled in
timber work. He didn't have saws and drills to make forms, but he had
the capability to substitute hand-made ropes and woodworking skills.
Limestone is used in the casing of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Limestone
is a non-clastic sedimentary rock formed from deposits of coral reefs.
Coral stone and limestone are close relatives. Portland cement, patented
in 1824 by a British stonemason, accounts for 95 percent of all cement
manufactured. Limestone is the source of calcium carbonate used for
manufacturing Portland cement. Ancient man had an appropriate substitute
for coral stone.
2-1-9 Smoking gun
Following undiscovered entities, ancient cement is the next simplest
theory. It offers complete and satisfying explanation. Since ancient
cement is the simplest theory that is fully within Ed's capability, is
demonstrable, is deceptive, explains why he wouldn't let us see him
working, is the only theory that explains why he built unusable hoists,
explains why he didn't patent his technology, and is the only theory
that meets every requirement of *construction* of the nine-ton gate by a
lone stonemason who only uses hand tools, any remaining opposing
hypotheses are permanently excluded. Steps 1, 2, and 3 are complete.
Gate *construction* by one stonemason has been shown feasible, and step
3 has been completed. Together they automatically complete step 4. All
steps are complete for proof of the /giant-mud-pie/ concept having been
used to construct Coral Castle's nine-ton gate. Because every creation
at Coral Castle can be constructed using ancient cement, Coral Castle
*construction* is proved.
Proof of Coral Castle *construction*, however, does not validate Ed's
claim that he knew how the pyramids were constructed nor does it prove
that any other megaliths were constructed with ancient cement. If we
knew how Stonehenge was constructed, that would not prove that the Great
Pyramid at Giza was constructed using the same methods. The pyramids
must be proved before Ed's claim can be validated.
What Coral Castle proves is that man-made stone can appear to our senses
as being indistinguishable from natural stone. It also proves that
stones can be disassembled and reassembled using a very basic process
that doesn't require any machinery or rotary kilns like those used in
modern cement manufacture.
Coral Castle presents a new set of proved models for all four events of
the *construction* phase that supports the ancient cement theory. Had it
been constructed some other way, it would have supported a different
theory. Therefore, it is an unbiased smoking gun. The obstacle of not
having proved models to support lifting and precision *construction* at
the pyramids is removed, and the new models are /potentially/ applicable
at all unsolved megaliths. One unsolved *megalith* that is particularly
useful to study is the Temple of Jupiter. Whereas Coral Castle's
nine-ton gate represents extreme complexity, the Temple of Jupiter's
Trilithon represents extreme weight.
3 The Temple of Jupiter
The Temple of Jupiter
in Baalbek, Lebanon is located a few hundred miles northeast of the
Egyptian pyramids. It is the home of the world champion heavyweights.
This site has 27 blocks of limestone that are unequaled in weight
anywhere in the world. The lightest of the 27 weighs in excess of 300
metric tons. A group of three are known as ?The Trilithon?. Each member
of the Trilithon weighs in excess of 800 metric tons. The Trilithon
contains the heaviest stones ever lifted by ancient man. They are part
of precision *construction* and rest atop supporting structure about 20
feet above ground.
The crane that NASA uses to lift the space shuttle is one of the largest
cranes ever built. It is designed to handle 430 tons. If the Trilithon
comprises natural blocks of limestone, then ancient man could do
something without machines that we can't do with our strongest machines.
Natural stone forces us to conclude that he had knowledge about physics
of lifting that we don't.
It is expected that each generation as a whole has more knowledge than
all of its ancestor generations. It is a timeline violation (an error in
reasoning that inverts the natural progression of knowledge) to claim
that ancient man had knowledge about lifting and precisely placing the
Trilithon that we don't. He was restricted by the same laws of physics
as Ed and ourselves. If it is claimed that ancient man used laws of
physics that we don't presently understand, then by default that unknown
law of physics can't be demonstrated which makes it a
temporarily-excluded undiscovered entity.
More than three and a half decades ago our scientists and engineers
proved they understood known laws of physics well enough to complete the
amazing task of sending men to the moon and safely returning them. Are
we to now claim that they don't understand them well enough to determine
how ancient man lifted and precisely placed the Trilithon? To make such
a claim would be a timeline violation. The only science-based
explanations for their inability to determine how ancient man performed
impossible feats that avoids a timeline violation are the same
explanations for their inability to determine how Ed performed
impossible feats---deception and the use of synthesis instead of
analysis. The only possible deceptions at ancient megaliths are the
stones and millennia of exposure to the elements. Any
non-temporarily-excluded theory for *construction* of the Trilithon that
can't demonstrate its feasibility to participate suffers the burden of a
timeline violation by default.
Ancient cement avoids a timeline violation because it is fully capable
of participating in *construction* of the Trilithon. The natural
progression of knowledge is maintained because our knowledge of the
physics of lifting has advanced from ancient times as would be expected.
Today we can lift and precisely place far more cement than ancient man
by using machines that have far less capability than NASA's crane.
Hoover Dam is proof.
The means used to determine the winner of a pole vault or high jump
competition in track and field is to raise the bar ever higher until
only one person can clear it. The bar is raised to the maximum position
at the Temple of Jupiter. While it is impractical to demonstrate
*construction* of a full scale Great Pyramid of Giza, it is not
impractical to quarry, transport, lift, and precisely place one 800
metric ton block of limestone at a height of 20 feet. If there are no
theories that can clear this bar other than ancient cement, then ancient
cement is the only possibility, therefore the winner.
An advantage of ancient cement is that it allows each worker to function
independently of other workers. Natural blocks of stone require that
work be performed as a synchronized team. Based on natural blocks of
stone, it has been scientifically estimated that the strength of 25,000
men would be required to lift the Trilithon. Based on ancient cement and
Ed's largest stone that weighs 30 tons, 30 men could do the same job.
Because ancient cement is the simplest theory for *construction* of the
Trilithon, is the only theory that is backed by proved models, and is
capable of excluding all opposing theories by virtue of being the only
theory that, obviously, can perform a full-scale demonstration, science
should accept it as proof of *construction* of the Trilithon until
something better is available.
3-1 Confusion in the quarry
The quarry that is located a few hundred meters from the Temple of
Jupiter contains a block of limestone that weighs in excess of a metric
kiloton. Websites report that it remains attached to the bedrock.
Therefore, it could be a natural block of limestone. If website
reporting is correct, then this stone only has characteristics of an
incomplete quarrying event.
Quarrying is the first event in the *construction* phase. If the ancient
cement theory is to be excluded at the Temple of Jupiter, then it must
be proved that this stone would have been transported, lifted, and
precisely placed as a whole natural block of limestone rather than
merely speculating its future.
An opposing speculation is that ancient man planned to leave it exactly
where it remains. Supporting evidence is its odd features. This stone
has no working room beneath it. How could it be carved squarely along
the bottom if it is on the ground and still attached to the bedrock?
This question makes website reporting suspect. Also, this stone is
tilted such that it must be dragged uphill which makes dragging far more
difficult and makes no sense. Since we aren't certain that this stone is
natural, it could be speculated that it is man made and was part of new
*construction* that fell into a sinkhole due to its massive weight.
Supporting evidence is that there are other stones nearby that are
standing vertical. This suggests that new *construction* was underway.
While there are speculations for dragging, there are speculations
against dragging. Speculations aren't proof. Because the nature and
purpose of the stones in the quarry are uncertain, and as we can learn
nothing about lifting and precisely placing stones by studying stones
that haven't been lifted and precisely placed, all stones in the quarry
must be studied as a separate problem.
To clarify the previous paragraph, please recall that confusion is being
minimized by studying rows of characteristics of interest while ignoring
other characteristics. The stones in the quarry do not have the
characteristics of interest therefore are being ignored. To study them
concurrently with the Trilithon would be a reversion to vertical work
that would cause confusion. The source of confusion is proved models
that already exist for quarrying and transporting that are different
from the quarrying and transporting models provided by Coral Castle. For
example, Easter Island has been proved. Its statues were carved in the
quarry then dragged a few miles to their present location on rollers
made of trees, but no stones have been lifted atop supporting structure
nor is there any precision placement of one stone with respect to
another. Each statue stands independently of the others. With two
distinct sets of models for quarrying and transporting, one from Easter
Island and the other from Coral Castle, there is no means to know which
model was used by simple observation of the stones in the Temple of
Jupiter's quarry. They can be studied later. By ignoring them for the
moment and choosing only stones that have been lifted and precisely
placed, we can be certain that the proved models supplied by Coral
Castle are valid as there are no rival models capable of lifting the
Trilithon. Thus, confusion is eliminated.
4 General Theory of *Megalith **Construction*
4-1 First obstacle removed
To settle the contest at ancient megaliths as to whether stones are
natural or man made, scientific equipment, tests, and measurements /must
be/ used to analyze them. This is the only means we have to acquire more
evidence that doesn't rely upon looking at the stones with the unaided
eye nor the knowledge that man-made stone would trivialize ancient man's
*construction* problems. Every unsolved ancient *megalith* is a
potential candidate for ancient cement. All except the Egyptian pyramids
await testing to make that determination. Long ago before quarries were
closed and the Egyptian pyramids placed off limits, they were tested,
analyzed, and proved, but the proof wasn't accepted. The reason why the
wheels of science have ground to a halt in this special case is
discussed in the next subsection.
Professor Joseph Davidovits
solved the Egyptian pyramids and gave us the first set of proved models
about a quarter century ago. He is a world-renowned expert in ancient
cements of which there are many varieties. He performed a battery of
tests on the pyramid casing stones. His tests included levelness
measurements, density tests, chemical analysis, and x-ray diffraction
spectrum analysis. His test results indicated positive that the casing
stones are man made. He has the test results and data available for all
to see. If anyone feels compelled and is able to obtain permission, his
tests are repeatable and verifiable. He also has discovered the specific
formula used to create the casing stones of the Egyptian pyramids.
Ed guessed correctly when he said that he knew the secrets of
*construction* of the pyramids, but it could not have been more than a
guess because Ed didn't test the pyramids. Professor Davidovits's tests
results, however, provide the equivalent of the technical ballistics
report that validates Ed's claim. The technical data shows that Ed's
belief that man-made stone was used to construct the pyramids was indeed
correct.
Professor Davidovits has a web site that contains a web page from which
a video
can be downloaded that demonstrates the simple process ancient Egyptians
used to make multi-ton blocks of limestone concrete, and it shows how
they controlled texture. The ?Tribune? area of his website is a forum
that contains a brief discussion of red granite
being
disassembled and reassembled. The claim is made in the discussion that
any building material is suitable for the process. There are other
simple ways to make stone that are not discussed in the forum.
4-2 Closing Argument
Professor Davidovits has accumulated enough high quality technical,
physical, mathematical, historical, linguistic, and logical evidence to
fill his published book with hundreds of pages that support the ancient
cement theory. Ancient cement is the only theory that is supported by
results of scientific tests and measurements which, with the exception
of Coral Castle, is the only means we have to determine whether stone is
natural or man made. It is the only theory that is supported by a second
set of models that were independently proved without bias. It is the
only theory that commits no timeline violations anywhere. Because
ancient cement is the simplest demonstrable theory that solves every
problem of *construction* of every unsolved ancient *megalith*,
parsimony states that it has priority to be studied in detail
everywhere. Perhaps it wasn't used everywhere, but it has priority to be
studied everywhere in order to determine whether it was or wasn't.
Categorical exclusion of demonstrable theories that have any amount of
supporting evidence is impossible. Thus, the contest now focuses on
specific instances of megaliths. Any arguments to exclude ancient cement
that are not based upon analysis of the stones with scientific
equipment, tests, and measurements are unacceptable. They must be rejected.
Ancient cement is not a new theory. Obviously, Ed thought of it a long
time ago. Many others have thought of it as well as evidenced by various
media, television programs (PBS series /Connections/, the /Trigger
Effect/ episode), websites, and forums that discuss it sincerely, with
subtlety, or with humor , but
it has remained obscure amidst the many other theories because it could
never acquire overwhelming evidence until scientific equipment and tests
were invented and made available to an owner of the theory who possessed
the skills to use them and who was granted permission to use them to
test the Egyptian pyramids. When Professor Davidovits became the first
to meet all of those stringent requirements, the proof contained within
his test results was unexpected and disturbing. It went against the
status quo of thousands of years that claims the stones are natural. It
was rejected. Soon afterward quarries were closed and the pyramids
placed off limits. Perhaps the timing was only a coincidence. Today we
are forced to use eyes only and to continue searching in vain for
solutions based upon natural stone, yet if we haven't found a provable
status-quo solution after thousands of years of trying, then there is no
reason to expect that we ever will.
Four puzzling questions that need to be answered are:
1.
Why was a credible and highly reputable scientist's proof rejected
when it was based upon results of repeatable and verifiable
scientific tests and measurements that went far beyond what the
unaided eye could detect and when volumes of other high-quality
supporting evidence was available?
2.
Why do we continue to search for status-quo solutions when
thousands of years of failure have shown us that this is not where
the answer lies?
3.
Why does science ignore the principle of parsimony and fail to
study the simplest non-temporarily-excluded theory that offers
full and satisfying explanation?
4.
Why, in this case, does science break tradition, allow itself to
be held hostage by the future, and not accept the proof that works
best until such time as something better is available?
Earlier it was stated that the only science-based explanations for
failing to uncover secrets of *construction* are deception and the use
of synthesis, but these explanations do not address the failures
described by the four questions. The answer to them is economics-based
in terms of changes to jobs, tourism, media, and entertainment. The
purpose of science is to exchange mystery for understanding. Normally,
we couldn't have both mystery and understanding. We would have to choose
one or the other. In the strange case of the pyramids, however, we can
have both. This particular mystery has greater net economic value than
the understanding. People enjoy the mystery. These ancient objects are
fascinating. Unless the solution is to be something equally fascinating
that is extremely valuable to mankind, many of us would not want to
know. Keeping the mystery alive is acceptable because this isn't
penicillin. No one dies as a result of failing to uncover pyramid
*construction* secrets. By breaking tradition and allowing science to be
held hostage, ignoring the principle of parsimony, rejecting Professor
Davidovits's analytic proof, and continuing to search for imaginary
status-quo solutions, the net economic value of the mystery will
continue to be maintained. Those who prefer to keep the mystery should
keep it. Those who prefer to gain the knowledge should make the exchange
. Each individual may choose according to his or her needs.
The Temple of Jupiter has been shown to be a prime candidate. The
Stonehenge Sarcen Circle also is a prime candidate because, as is true
at many megaliths, the soil there is rich in calcium carbonate. There
are simple ways to get calcium into sand to make sandstone which is the
building material used in the Sarcen Circle. Children do it in
elementary-school science classes.
The Bluestones at Stonehenge have not been lifted atop supporting
structure. They do not have the characteristics of interest, are like
the stones in the quarry at the Temple of Jupiter, and must be studied
as a separate problem.
The tiers of the pyramids and the lintels of the Stonehenge Sarcen
Circle are scientifically documented as being extraordinarily level.
Extreme levelness is a common factor at many unsolved megaliths. One
television program describes the beautiful level terraces at Machu
Picchu. Levelness is an especially amazing feat for ancient man to
accomplish using natural stone at Stonehenge because it is built upon
sloping ground. Levelness, however, is trivial for ancient man to
accomplish on sloping ground if he used ancient cement because there is
another fundamental principle of science: /A liquid seeks its own level/.
Ancient cement is the only theory that has more than minimal evidence to
support it. It has potential candidates everywhere, a smoking gun, a
matching ballistics report, and huge amounts of high quality evidence
acquired by Professor Davidovits. Ancient cement is not a theory.
Ancient cement is a proved fact.
FAQ
How did Ed move Coral Castle from Florida City to Homestead?
Ed never let anyone see anything he didn't want seen, and we know he had
no means to lift his creations all at once. Because he has already been
caught in a number of deceptions, it is certain that the move was
another. The most probable speculation as to how he accomplished this is
that he made hollow dummies of a few of his creations by making wooden
forms of them and coating the forms with a thin layer of ancient cement.
Though the large hoists could not have been used, he had some small
hoists that would have been useful for lifting the dummies onto the
trailer. During the relocation, movement of the trailer would have
prevented anyone having a chance at close inspection. As there was no
reason to suspect that the huge creations weren't real, no one would
have wanted a close inspection. Following the move, witnesses reported
that they saw exactly what Ed wanted them to see, and his credibility
was greatly enhanced.
It is rumored that Ed brought his carvings with him when he moved. They
weigh 100 tons. The photograph below of the original site does not
confirm that. Instead, it shows that a substantial number of creations
were abandoned. Why? Ed didn't move these creations because he couldn't.
If he destroyed some of the creations that supposedly were moved and
then rebuilt them at the Homestead site, it would seem as though he
moved them.
Frame3
The only means to confirm this would be to obtain photographs of the
original Coral Castle while it was in operation. The photographs would
need to present close-up detail of an object that supposedly was moved.
The detailed markings of the object in the photograph could be compared
with detailed markings on the same object at the current location. If
the markings match, then they are the same object, and it was physically
moved. If the marks do not match, then they are different objects. It
seems improbable that such photographs exist, but whether this
speculation is correct or not, moving the complex is unrelated to Coral
Castle *construction* because deception has been established. To dismiss
*construction* of the nine-ton gate because Ed's move remains
speculative is a reversion to vertical work. By remaining focused on the
nine-ton gate, an undeniable proof of the general concept used in Coral
Castle *construction* has been established, and a few scientific tests
can easily confirm it.
<#On Proving Ancient Megalith Construction|outline>