But don’t you think it’s a cop-out for them to zero in on the outrageously unlikely – albeit sensational and entertaining – explanation rather than unravelling the mystery along the most likely path?
There are shows that explain both ancient and modern engineering. There are scientists working to explain ancient engineering feats. It’s a real pity that kind of thing is being pushed aside in favour of ridiculous fantasies that are presented to the naive and ill-informed as truly plausible possibilities.
I guarantee that there is zero plausible evidence that angels, aliens or time travellers built it, and that there is plenty of evidence – not mentioned in the show – that the “etc.”, i.e. human ingenuity, is behind it.
Quoting Wikipedia:
[quote]Archaeologists argue that the transport of these stones was accomplished by the large labor force of ancient Tiwanaku. Several theories have been proposed as to how this labor force transported the stones although these theories remain speculative. Two of the more common proposals involve the use of llama skin ropes and the use of ramps and inclined planes.[9]
In assembling the walls of Pumapunku, each stone was finely cut to interlock with the surrounding stones and the blocks fit together like a puzzle, forming load-bearing joints without the use of mortar. One common engineering technique involves cutting the top of the lower stone at a certain angle, and placing another stone on top of it which was cut at the same angle.[4] The precision with which these angles have been utilized to create flush joints is indicative of a highly sophisticated knowledge of stone-cutting and a thorough understanding of descriptive geometry.[6] Many of the joints are so precise that not even a razor blade will fit between the stones.[10] Much of the masonry is characterized by accurately cut rectilinear blocks of such uniformity that they could be interchanged for one another while maintaining a level surface and even joints. The blocks were so precisely cut as to suggest the possibility of prefabrication and mass production, technologies far in advance of the Tiwanaku’s Inca successors hundreds of years later.[9] Tiwanaku engineers were also adept at developing a civic infrastructure at this complex, constructing functional irrigation systems, hydraulic mechanisms, and waterproof sewage lines.[/quote]
So, transportation of the blocks could have been done (but hasn’t been proven to be) with a large labour force, skins, ramps, inclined planes. Slavery and a very basic grasp of physics got it covered.
Production of the blocks required excellent stonecutting skills and a strong grasp of descriptive geometry. Entirely plausible for numerous ancient civilizations.
Lastly, great precision suggests (doesn’t prove) the possibility of some form of prefabrication and mass production. It’s entirely plausible to me that an ancient people could have been capable of devising such a system – in no way “modern” but completely within the context of their time and the scope of their knowledge – and that knowledge of that system could easily be lost to future generations.
