MACHU PICCHU "A stone masons commentary" (MIke Haduck)

[@RostislavLapshin]

Several methods of fabrication of the polygonal masonry using clay/gypsum replicas, a topography translator, and reduced clay models of the stone blocks along with a 3D-pantograph are described in the article “Fabrication methods of the polygonal masonry of large tightly-fitted stone blocks with curved surface interfaces in megalithic structures of Peru” (DOI: 10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v7). KZbin does not allow a direct link. Search by the article title.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Rostislav, it's only stone, not a big deal, just make your patterns and match it up, thanks Mike

[@scotch_onrocks1876]

Yeah clay is same as granite

[@MikeHaduck]

I did a video called " carving stones with ancient technology? Not a big deal, just time ,money and labor, thanks Mike

[@RostislavLapshin]

@@scotch_onrocks1876 Did you read the article? Search for the 7th edition (7th version) of the article at Preprints website by title or by DOI 10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v7.

[@RostislavLapshin]

The 8th article edition (DOI: 10.20944/preprints202108.0087.v8) is posted at Preprints. Search the article by DOI or by title.

[@jimnorthland2903]

On my family's farm there is a road about 1/4 mile long raised several feet above the wet meadow. My grandfather and his brother built that with shovels and a wheelbarrow because their father told them to. Now that's simple compared to massive stonework, but already it seems impossible to do without an excavator and dump-truck. There was a tool in our toolbox for most of human history that is no longer there. And that is the tool of TIME.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Jim, very well said, mike

[@PatrickPease]

I was 26 before i ever RAN a mile... A single mile felt like an eternity and was daunting. It's really no big deal, one foot in front of the other and a little time and you've covered your ground. Do it again and you've covered 2x you ground... And it took less than 16 minutes. Not forever, just get working and you'll accomplish something.

[@johnbean414]

No truer words have ever been said " Find the laziest guy and he will show you the most efficient way of doing any job". I've been preaching this at my work for decades. Love your stuff Mike keep up the good work.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi John, very true, lol, Mike

[@flyfishing1776]

My 20/20 HIND sight says the samething.

[@fuerzademapuche2532]

My grandfather used to say that same thing and I would have to agree.

[@suep4530]

@@MikeHaduck we used to always say .. work smart NOT hard lol

[@thomastmc]

The lazy guy would say, let's not use granite but one of the softer stones that are easy to work.

[@GregsStoneYard]

Says "This place is not that big of a deal as they claim", then proceeds to pan around showing 1000's of linear feet of walls built on the side of a mountain. We'll have to disagree on what a "big deal is" :). That's impressive even if done today. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Greg, mike

[@FFLFFS]

Not a big deal??..With all the " theories" out there you'd think with the 9 billion people on planet earth there would be one that would want to PROVE his , hers or their favourite academia's perspective; that today's man could accomplish such an easy feat. They have to go out, find a bare side of a mountain, and with a thousand volunteers, and no infrastructure support for medical, grocery stores, daycare etc, etc, live off the land, transport a billion tons of massive boulders, with no tools to speak of, and no machinery..from a remote location. And then with bare hands hue the stones in perfect alinement. Until that someone can step up to the plate, I'll go with super intellect humans that could altar the kinetic energy of frequencies. K I'm done here; Scottie beam me up!

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

I think he's saying that it's humanly possible and doesn't need to involve Aliens or magic to explain how this got there. It's incredible work, but not supernatural.

[@kimsand53]

Greg9504 Seriously. No one or group on the earth today could make and place 20 of those megalithic stones let alone the huge walls that exist all around the earth. No big deal though. Childish attitude really.

[@strikeforcek9149]

@@kimsand53 I'd like him to visit the stones that are perfectly flat to within 2 ten-thousandths of an inch, something we can't even do today with our most advanced MODERN technology, and they had around a DOZEN of them that were entirely massive in size to boot.

[@Ghryst]

"Hi Mike, how did they build machu pichu?" "well ghryst, they found a lazy guy" "oh thanks mike, that clears that one up, lets go look at the pyramids next"

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Ghryst, I also did videos on conwy castle, cathedral of St. John divine and coral castle and as a stone mason they were far more impressive than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, was st the pyramids also, Thanks, mike

[@Ghryst]

@@MikeHaduck impressiveness is not the issue. no one can replicate this with period tools. ppl havent even tried, cos logic. these ppl supposedly only had copper tools at best

[@desktorp]

@@Ghryst The technocratic elite maintain power over the world by gatekeeping the advanced technology of the ancients.

[@Ghryst]

@@desktorp mmm! buzzword salad for lunch

[@desktorp]

@@Ghryst you explain it then, fuckhead

[@morningcoffee1111]

“Strange sheep they got here”. Ha! I am so glad you, as a real stone mason, did these videos. Thanks for taking the time.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thank you, Mike

[@grumpycat_1]

Those are called "kissing sheep" b/c they love when you get face to face with them ;-)

[@hatzlmike1]

I have been at the edge of my seat since the how we got there video. So wonderful to see the stonework and have a person that works within the art form speak. Better than tv because the company don’t control the words. It gets exponentially better because their is trust. Show us the good stuff. Grimé.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, mike

[@j.sagiechode]

So how do you figure they rubbed and banged together 20-60 tonne granite rocks with less than millimeter precision?

[@johndoe6668]

They didn't, he explained how they did it by hand with a small stone that was harder than the stone they used for the walls. They chip, chip, chipped away over days to sculpture one large stone to fit another. Lots of trial & error tilting the stone back & forth until they fitted nicely.

[@bardos]

Duh! They used lazy guys

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi J , just use your patterns and keep rubbing till they fit, thanks, mike

[@j.sagiechode]

@@MikeHaduck I guess in the minds eye of unicorns and pink fairies I could rub and bang out a 60 ton granite rock to sub-milimeter precision in about what ,10,000 years ? if I can live that long in this make believe world. And that would be a single rock! how many did you imagine were in matchu pichu? maths don't quiet add up let alone these primitive people supposedly didn't have Einstein IQ's. I think your assumption may be alittle wishful. but I'm just a simple mechanical engineer, and have no real knowledge on much of anything.

[@MrBottlecapBill]

@@j.sagiechode Your whole statement reeks of false statements. There is NO sub millimeter precision....first of all. Second of all you're not banging out 60 tons of rock on a 60 tone stone. Only the outer later which may be 10's of pounds since they used stones that already had close to the proper fit in the first place, or that were cut together at the quarry so they were almost a perfect match before work even began. It doesn't take 10, 000 years......it just takes hours of hard work. Not just one man.......thousands of people working at any one time. The IQ of the people working there is equal to the IQ of people living today, however their work ethic was tenfold what we have today. Being an engineer obviously hasn't taught you to be critical thinker.....get off your desk and your computer, and go build something. You'll see it actually can be done. The fact that it was done almost everywhere on the planet is pretty compelling proof. There's no mystery. Stone shapes stone. Harder stone shapes softer stone quicker. Charcoal can be used to draw on stone. The rest is just general labour. It doesn't get any simpler. People still do this type of work today, they just use better tools so the work progresses faster. Just like Engineers used to use pencils and rulers before computer modelling.

[@arailway8809]

How truly good it is to have somebody that knows his stone to make a presentation based on real experience.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks ARailway, I appreciate it , mike

[@bofadeeznuts469]

“Yes I am a veteran and have been to college.” I just about pissed my pants! Thanks for your service and I really enjoy your channel!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Bofa, mike

[@slhurtt]

Finally a pragmatic approach that isn't laced with ancient astronaut theories. Always thought their stonework was well done for the tools that were available. If there were power tools available 10k years ago then it would have been much more symmetrical - IMO. The fit always amazed me. It was only the facing and the sides; not the back part that was fitted was a keen observation. As far as lifting the stones just watch how they leverage up a house using blocking. Simple and effective. There are still some mysteries yet to be discovered about ancient times beyond our current understanding of the methods used to construct large works. Well done sir, i appreciate your perspective.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks S. Truth, I appreciate it, mike

[@slappy8941]

They weren't going for symmetry, because asymmetrical keystone-cut masonry is much more resistant to earthquake damage. You know absolutely nothing about megalithic monuments.

[@williambrandondavis6897]

@@slappy8941 Settle down Napoleon.

[@williambrandondavis6897]

@heygeno1951 King tuts sword is made of iron that is thought to have originated from a meteorite. The ancients very well could have used iron meteorite tools to do some of stone work. They could have also made pure sand from specific types of minerals like diamonds, ruby's, hematite, iron meteorite, etc. Simply crush hematite or a meteroite and you have an abrasive much more efficient than your common desert sand. The fact is there are hundreds of ways it could be done without electricity or modern tools. Water and wind carved out the Grand Canyon, it didn't take diamonds raining down or Paul Bunnen dragging his axe. Lol, just a whole lot of time.

[@mdh6977]

Very intersting video, thanks for taking the time to show this... i was always curious if the "razor thin" seams were were all the way through the walls or if it was almost a facade and as you stated a way to seat the stone and "good enough" so to speak... interesting to see the transitions between building periods as well... glad you had such a clear sky and long views day, i think you got lucky... also thanks for the tutorial at the end

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks mdh6977, I appreciate it, mike

[@OldF1000]

Mike many to day have little clue as to the effectiveness of the the simple machines. The lever the roller and inclined plane. I have done some millwrighting, moving and setting heavy machinery. I know first hand that one person can move and set something that weighs many ton with nothing more than a lever rollers and cribbing. But I will leave the cutting and shaping of stone to someone like you ; )

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks CD S, I believe you, And I seen some heavy things lifted by the old timers, thanks for a truthfull comment, mike

[@xAnAngelOfDeathx]

How exactly do you move a boulder weighing a hundred tons plus, lift it and set it perfectly in place only with stone and maybe some bronze tools? Add in a steep mountainside slope... modern engineers would love to hear the answer to this.

[@moomoo3031]

curiouser and curiouser! I just had a thought watching your excellent video. I have messed with rock walls in CT but nothing like this, and even that was hard work! So when i see how close they fit, I wonder how to do that with out having to lift and chisel out, lift and refit...so hard to do that with 50 ton rocks....soooo???WTF! but if they carved out the bottom rock, then did a plaster (mud?) cast of the top, then they could use that as a template to shape the next block? Or one of those nifty rigs with lots of spokes that shape to things ...you said find the laziest person, and I am always trying to find the easiest way to do things. But how they lifted them I have no clue! and thanks for the grass-over-the-top of the retaining wall, makes sense!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks moo moo, I appreciate it, mike

[@jamtlandhomesteaders2710]

Very interesting Mike. when I look at this ancient masonry, I always think of - Labor, Time, and Material. Truly a masterpiece!

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi, your right, it's just time effort and material, thanks Mike

[@scotch_onrocks1876]

Yeah seems quick and easy right? Get the thousand pound rocks from the other mountains and just bring em on over, cut here, cut there, nothing to it

[@MrNatej81]

Hey Mike, really appreciate your videos. I live in Montana and I’m wondering about adding a modified Thinset to my mortar mix for use on some exterior flagstone steps? Is that necessary or is a basic type S mortar mix sufficient? Thanks-Nate

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Nate, on anything laying outside flat I only use Portland and sand, s mortar don’ Hold up in these parts, I hope it helps, thanks,, Mike

[@MrNatej81]

Thanks so much for replying Mike, must be something with the added moisture laying flat and the lime that’s in S mortar?

[@tantricsarcasm9133]

"Steps aren't code." I like your sense of humor, Mike. Big fan from TN.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks fan, I appreciate it, nice to hear from Tennessee , mike

[@phxtonash]

Gallatin TN here

[@drmachinewerke1]

Fan of your Channel Maybe they had one leg longer than the other.

[@JAMAEL89]

Thank you for traveling and taking the time to explain the fine details of stone building.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks JAMAEl, I appreciate it, mike

[@niefel]

You know that there are another sites with megalithic wall, right? Why you don't post videos from these sites: Sacsayhuamán, Look at coricancha , stones are smooth on all sides. Diorite cusco wall ollantaytambo ruins, stones also smooth on all sides Sun temple pisac Peru, stones also smooth on all sides And maybe many more.. Machu piccu maybe "not that big deal", but combine all those sites, then it is big deal.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Tape, I got the footage but am 20 videos behind with my regular masonry, but I will get there, thanks, mike

[@thylacinenv]

So many bedroom researchers making wild claims who do not understand stone. The Egyptian's used bow saws with flat blades introducing powdered sinta lubricated with water, the Inca worked stone as you demonstrated but I suspect they may have used French drags to feather in the edges or as you show granite rubbing blocks. As a Mason you know it's relatively simple to move very large blocks of stone with the use of a single pebble, and I'm sure you know the trick using sugar cubes, shame the Inca didn't have cubes it would have made life easier.....those bedroom researchers will be scratching their heads at that one! Interesting vlogg.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Nick , I am not a mover but I see a lot moved in the past by different means, I agree, thanks, mike

[@johndoe6668]

Oh thank you, anything to do with Manchu Picchu on KZbin usually leads to UFO's & giants. So nice to hear someone sane actually explaining this sort of thing. Liked & Subscribed.

[@johndoe6668]

I must have missed that bit.?

[@williambrandondavis6897]

@IRHanley He was commenting on some religious peoples ideas that giants built these megalithic structures and proceeded to disagree with it when he stated his hypothesis that they were indeed built by ancient humans. And that's not a "conspiracy" theory. Lol. Look up the definition of conspiracy. That's just a theory. I guess we could more accurately call that a biblical theory or mythological theory? I can't see how it could be a conspiracy.

[@robertl.fallin7062]

"usuall leads to UFO' and aliens " AND big foot ,lol

[@JohnBrown-cn2qz]

Great video, Mike it's great to see you in Peru. I watched a lot of your other videos on stone wall building, brickwork, how to mix concrete, etc. I always found your videos very interesting. It's nice to hear a experienced, expert stone mason giving his two cents on "how could they have possibly done it". Lets face it, we don't have all the answers and probably never will. But Peru sure is an interesting place. Lets see more videos and don't forget Bolivia. They have some very interesting stone structures there, too.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks John, I appreciate that, mike

[@mrkrasker9609]

Machu picchu is an example of an ancient public works project.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Mr Krasker, I would believe that, thanks mike

[@baratobarato5056]

Yeah, using lots of slaves as always.

[@billgreen576]

I remember seeing a program on British TV at least two decades (maybe more) ago. It demonstrated (not just talked about) how using very simple techniques that whomever built these structures slid huge stones into place. I have looked and cannot find it but it is out there somewhere. Like your work Mike, thank you.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Bill, Mike

[@deezynar]

Some people are so dumb that they will never believe that humans have done amazing things with little more than rocks, dirt, grass, and some logs. Anyone who has ever worked with their hands and learned some simple mechanics realizes that if you get enough people together they can do some impressive stuff without any space aliens needed.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi deezynar, very well said, thanks, mike

[@seriousguitarinstructionbo6690]

Great, let's see a pic of a tiny 12'X12' wall in your back yard with that size stone and precision. Just grab a few neighbors and stack'em up. Shouldn't be hard.

[@deezynar]

@@seriousguitarinstructionbo6690 Of course we could. The question is not actually about methods, it is one of motives. If me and my neighbors were actually motivated, we could do that.

[@MrNatej81]

Hey Mike, another question if you don’t mind? I’m building a brick mailbox, about 28”x28” and 5’ tall. Should it have a cinder block core that is anchored to my concrete pad or are just the bricks enough? I was also wondering if weep holes are necessary? Thanks so much-Nate

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Nate, I guess that would depend on the size of the brick, but all the old chimneys were hollow, thanks, mike

[@jaboy123]

Love your videos. thanks for making them.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks jaboy, mike

[@niteshades_promise]

fellow pennsylvanian. ever hear about ancients using sound/frequency to cut and melt stone? like a giant tuning fork? fascinating stuff. i worked at a plantation that had a spring fed troth craved out of a single stone in 1700's was larger than a bath tub. had stone mortarless walls for fences. was an awesome place.🍻

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, mike

[@BAZZAROU812]

Spanish never made it there.. It was undiscovered..

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Oscar, I don’t know, mike

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

The local people always knew about it. What I think he means is that, after the Spanish came over here and the local people learned about cement, the local people then used the cement to repair walls of structures that they were still using or living in up on Machu Pichu. Its my understanding that the abandonment of Machu Pichu was a gradual process driven largely by the difficulty with getting resources up there. Old stone masonry villages continue to be slowly abandoned in the modern era driven largely by similar issues.

[@angeldelgado4048]

@@MikeHaduck Before making comments that are lies, You should talk to authentic Peruvian archaeologist; most of them speak English. They will tell you that Spanish Conquers never found or knew about this place, only and some local aborigen knew it. Actually this place was considered a Sacred Place or Temple for the INCAS only and its close relatives or descendants. NO one else in PERU during the conquer and its independence did not know this place exist. It was until July 14th of 1902 a local Peruvian-citizen called Agustín Lizárraga discover this site. He tried to obtain financial aids from the Peruvian government and was denied; then one guy from USA called Hiram Bingham, sponsored by Yale University took credit for it. Know a days is when they star using some cements for small repairs in Machu-Pichu.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi, I call it as I see it, sorry if I offended you, mike

[@drmachinewerke1]

Let the lazy man figure it out. As a man that worked commercial roofing for over 30 years. That statement is a fact. For anyone that thumbs down that statement. You think to much. Just do it don’t over think it. I needed to move a round bail of hay. It weighs 1700 lbs No big tractor. I back up a trailer to the bail and unhook it. I shove a long bar into the bail. I hook a chain to the bail and to truck. When I pull forward it flips bail onto the trailer. Hook up to trailer and away I go A winch would be faster. But mine was broken. I used what was available at the time. Don’t overthink.

[@MikeHaduck]

God bless you drmachinewerke, I can tell a man with experience, I appreciate it, mike

[@thomastmc]

Wouldn't the lazy guy choose to not use granite?

[@roberttaylor5668]

@@thomastmc then he wouldn't be the laziest, keep lookin

[@thomastmc]

@@roberttaylor5668 Well, the lazier man would've also cut the stones from up to 60 tons down to smaller pieces that are easy to carry. The laziest man wouldn't have done it at all. This lazy man reasoning sure makes sense...

[@seriousguitarinstructionbo6690]

What make tractor do you suppose they used?

[@DaaSaa-lt3is]

I will be curious to see them flip flop the big huge megalithic stone to found the best one to fit together...lol. Try again.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Daa3, mike

[@robertwehmeyer9684]

I can't find the video of Ed building the Coral can you tell me how to find Video? Thanks for your time RCW

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Robert, my video is " coral castle visit" Mike Haduck and the video where he was filmed doing it is " coral castle , mystery solved" thanks mike

[@YesYouAreAbsolutelyCorrect]

Great video, thank you! Same as with pyramids and all other ancient structures, it's not half as ideal, as many people want to believe. Respect to mason from an architect, cheers:)

[@MikeHaduck]

Thank you Eau, I appreciate hearing that from a architect, I agree, mike

[@alexanderrad3458]

How would you describe the building style where some stones interlock with the ones below & above them? The last only similar modern style I’m aware of is in light house construction.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Alex, I don’t see anything that is special down there, back on the 60s I was working with the old timers that was doing all the railroad and wpa work, and it was basically the same, thanks Mike

[@48ford8n]

As soon as you started speaking I knew you were from PA....like myself! Nice video!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks D, yep we got our own language in these parts, lol, mike

[@akoznasovajusername]

Mike, will you maybe please soon upload a video where you are blowing up a wall with a dynamte to create a window opening?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Dino, I do that on my “breaking out of prison for beginners “video, lol. Thanks, mike

[@ozwhistles]

Thanks Mike - great to hear some sanity on this subject! I agree about Egypt - there you have only 2 short work-seasons - plant and harvest with crops yielding so much that they made a lot of it into beer. .. So for the other half of the year, you have essentially nomadic tribes all crammed together - well fed and drunk causing mayhem - specially the young men. So you give them something to do: "Hey let's make a giant pyramid by banging rocks together!" The Pharos were geniuses. And in between banging rocks together, you could get them to kill the surrounding tribes. Things haven't changed much - and the lazy man still rules technology .. and media .. etc ;)

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks ozwhistles, very well said, thanks, mike

[@ozwhistles]

@@MikeHaduck Mind you Mike - I am attracted to the "stone-softening" techniques some talk about .. the lower parts of the big stones are more shaped than the upper-parts .. that sounds suitably lazy to me? And what I can't get good pictures of is the back sides of the big stones .. I saw one where I think it looks like it was ground-in for the front with the back looking more like a scoop than a cut. Certainly not well crafted. Have you seen such?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi oz, I got to say when I was looking at the pyramids and the temples in Egypt and Greece , they were not perfect, lots of imperfections ( I wish I had the cameras I got now), but I seen greater works in the cathedrals and castles of Europe, my opinion, just me, I appreciate it, mike

[@etchalaco9971]

@@MikeHaduck Have you seen the 12 angle stone in Cusco? What in those cathedrals or castles matches the perfection of that inca stone?

[@xAnAngelOfDeathx]

@@ozwhistles Stone softening granite? Why does science and engineering know nothing about this if this ever was a thing? It sounds utterly preposterous to me.

[@mainormurillo7254]

"This place is not that big of a deal as they claim" what an obtuse appreciation on such an architectural wonder..

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Mainor, I did videos on conwy castle, the cathedral of St. John ,the Great Wall of China, coral castle, etc etc and as a stone mason they were far more impressive 5han anything I seen at Machu Picchu, Thanks, mike

[@anthonyw9129]

@@MikeHaduck why do you leave the same comment on every post ? you're not answering any of the questions

[@MikeHaduck]

Because I am trying to make the point that Machu Picchu is a nice post card and of course interesting but compared to real stone masonry it is nothing, thanks, mike

[@anthonyw9129]

@@MikeHaduck well we disagree Mike.. you're a great mason though i learn a lot from you... Definitely would like to see you reproduce this with the period tools .. thanks

[@MikeHaduck]

My brother who is in the stone business also is going to drop some granite off today, no big deal, Machu Picchu is Disney world compared to other sites, the Great Wall of China is 13000 miles long, thanks, Mike

[@bradbutcher1205]

Not as impressive as everyone says. Lost me with that.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Brad, I don,t know how to answer that, Thanks, mike

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

@@MikeHaduck I think I get what you're saying. It's not something that requires a paranormal explanation to exist.

[@valkenburgert]

@@rockinbobokkin7831 If alien (or paranormal) theorists are described as "everyone" you're in a dodgy social situation or click the wrong videos on KZbin. Let's hope that's not what he meant...

[@thomastmc]

To a dull mind a telescope is just a stick.

[@patriciaramirez6185]

Brad Butcher You mean Brad The Butch.

[@TheEulerID]

I trekked to Machu Picchu 25 years ago. None of that stonework is pre-Inca. It as believed by most archeologists to have been built for the Inca Emperor Pachacuti in the 15th century, only about a hundred years before the Spanish arrived. The Inca did have a well known style of polished drystone walls for important buildings. They didn't just come along later and pile up rocks on the existing stonework. As for the Spanish, they aren't responsible for all that reconstruction with mortar. That's all 20th and 21st century. The Conquistadors never found Macchu Picchu, and it was only known to local people until Hiram Bingham (an American academic/explorer) announced its "rediscovery" in 1911. He had been shown the ruins by local, indigenous farmers in a remote spot. It's worth seeking out old photos before all the restoration work (much might better be called reconstruction). Back in 1911, there were no gables left; they've all been reconstructed. There are photos from 1912 after the jungle had been cleared, and the scale of 20th century reconstruction becomes obvious. Not those massive, very finely dressed and fitted stones, but things like the more rudely constructed houses. Cusco, the Inca capital has some astonishing stonework, on an even more epic scale. Machu Picchu is very special, in part because the Spanish never came and wrecked it. Whilst the Spanish were happy enough to adapt Inca stonework, as can be seen at Cusco, they would have never tolerated what the saw as the pagan religious elements, such as the "Hitching Stone of the Sun", which is the contemporary name for that upright. Cusco also has pre-Inca stonework, such as nearby Sacsayhuamán which was started by the Killke around 1100 but expanded and enhanced by the Inca in the 13 century onwards.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Steve, I still got 3 more videos on Peru but I am over 30 videos behind now, good to hear what others say, thanks, mike

[@Pcgamingfixes]

Wow! Amazing you follow Brien Froester. I’ve watch you both separately thinking about stone work! Make sure you check in on ‘Ancient Architects’ he’s got a video about the puma punku stones possibly being a geopolymer matrix mixed with organic material so it’s like very hard rock concrete. The stones you are looking at may have been sculpted with a acid slurry from acid lakes near by. Still very mysterious and amazing!

[@MikeHaduck]

thanks James, mike

[@danhillman4523]

I ran a large boring mill. The heaviest thing I ever moved weighed roughly 19 tons. It took a lot of heavy, high tech tackle, and a monstrous overhead crane to place the steel block where it needed to be, and it is an extremely dangerous and delicate operation. There is no way you could have placed enough humans around the piece to even budge it. Just telling you my experiences with large and heavy objects. It only needed to be lifted around 4 feet from floor level and standing it up on edge was very nerve wracking. The vast majority of people, and this is not meant as any sort of insult, have no comprehension of weights like that.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Dan, checkout my videos on conwy castle and the cathedral of St. John, they far outweigh anything I seen at Machu Picchu, a stonemasons opinion, thanks, mike

[@nicholasflamegun3883]

Dolerite pounders to create pefect joints in 40 ton stones and 90 degree internal angles? i don't think so.I'd like to see a modern stone mason create just one of those perfect large granite stones using stone hammers and copper.They would never be able to do it.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Nicholas, I am about 20 videos behind but when I get to the rest of Peru I will do a demonstration, but I agree with forester about the saw marks, thanks, mike

[@diannewright7300]

Still haven't explained how they did all this without metal. Can't imagine the difficulty. Especially if its granite as you assert.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Dianne, it’s not a big deal, I did videos on conwy castle, the Great Wall of China, the cathedral of St. John, coral castle, and as a stone mason they were far more impressive than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, Thanks, mike

[@thomastmc]

There is no explanation, except ridiculous speculation like you saw in this video.

[@MichaelSHartman]

If you look at 14:35 "Old School" might give you an idea.

[@TheEulerID]

They had metal. What they didn't have was iron/steel. The Inca were bronze age folk, just like the Egyptians who built the pyramids. However, still astonishing work given the context of the time and location where it was built.

[@cdawg9149]

You just explained how you would exploit the seams in the rock. Thats how you would do it. Obviously not how they did it. Next.

[@marshalbass7098]

Mike do you have any theories about the saw marks or tube drill holes in egypt? Did the ancients have metal machines?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi marshal, I know that had diamonds and the wheel, so that’s the beginning of a modern day saw, thanks mike

[@robertkelly3313]

Brilliant Mike, I used to wonder why there were no cutting tools found, now I know, the masons took them home with them. 😎👍🏻

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Robert, yep I seen that at the flee markets, lol, mike

[@idahoduckhunter]

Wow when interests combine. Didn’t expect something like this on your channel. Love it

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Idaho, Mike

[@alohathaxted]

I beg to differ Mike. They found the loudest wife!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks aloh, probably so,lol, mike

[@flyfishing1776]

😬😬😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@phxtonash]

I'm definitely not saying you're wrong. Because I don't know. But I've heard a theory or hypothesis that maybe they used an acid that was readily available to them to soften the stone before working it. Any thoughts?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Phxto, I don,t see the big deal at that site, I believe there is saw marks, but I have videos on conwy castle and the cathedral of St. John which I think is far more impressive from a stone masons point of view, i appreciate it, mike

[@phxtonash]

@@MikeHaduck thanks

[@marko6695]

PhxtoNash: Not sure Mike answered your question. His comment was duplicated on several other posts. I will be in Peru next week to examine and image the differing types of megaliths microscopically inside and out. It will provide clues to the finishing proces. (saw, grind, pound, mould, etc) I'll post images on my KZbin account if you're interested.

[@williambrandondavis6897]

It's a known ancient technique to use fire and freezing conditions to make some stone more brittle and easier to chip and shape. It's common in flint knapping for instance. I dont believe acid makes stone softer as much as it simply dissolves it in some cases like with limestone. I'm a rock hound and I use various acids to help clean specimens. So that's my experience any way.

[@NelsonMuntz1]

Not as big a deal as they claim?? I've been there and i tend to disagree with you mate.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Aussie, I did videos on conwy castle, the cathedral of St. John nyc, coral castle, etc etc, and as a stone mason I was far more impressed with these, than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, Thanks, mike

[@etchalaco9971]

@@MikeHaduck What is megalithic, mortar-less, anti seismic, ancient in any of those place? Anything like the temple of the sun at Machu Picchu?

[@Brian-Burke]

I love this video, Mike. Thanks for posting. Regarding retaining walls, in addition to letting the grass grow over the top of it, would it help to build them at an angle as opposed to plumb?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Brian, yes I always pitch them in and they did too, thanks, mike

[@ucwutuwant2c520]

You had me at laziest guy.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, Mike

[@rhondaadams4013]

I find this to be a very good video. Wish your videos on these structures were longer, and more detailed though. Of ALL the documentaries (or videos) I've watched over the years on the ancient stone structures, I've never seen one through the eyes and mind of a mason. To me, this is extremely interesting to watch and meditate on concerning the information you give. The Bible does say that there were giants in the days prior to the Flood of Noah, and after. I was watching a ministry video recently and it was stated that the Sphinx has erosion marks that are not from wind and sand, but from water, giving confirmation of it being a pre-Flood structure. Any thoughts? Also, it was stated that many animals were of much larger size before the Flood as well, because of the massive sizes of the fossils found. So much to consider! Love the videos Mike!

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Rhonda, lots of things from the past men are guessing at, I think only God knows, but the pyramids, cusco etc is primitive work, to me the cathedrals and palaces are far more intricate and advanced, thanks Mike

[@scotch_onrocks1876]

L0l

[@kimsand53]

Yeah, just keep pounding on that stone. You'll get there in about 13 million years.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Kim, if you worked with stone for any length of time you would think different, thanks, mike

[@kimsand53]

Mike Haduck Masonry No one today can build some of the megalithic stone walls found all around the face of the earth. No one can place together stones of that size in interlocking fashion having all four sides matching without any deviation whatsoever that is displayed in some of those walls. Your right about some of the newer works, I'm talking about the ancient stone structure. Sorry, you may think you can, but you cannot, not you or anyone else in today's world and you are perpetuating a false narrative by saying that you can with a little bit of experience. You cannot. There was a technology used in ancient times that has been lost and is now being intentionally suppressed by a power that none of us fully understand. All the kings men and all the kings horses could not even begin to build those walls and neither could you. Go read Genesis 6, maybe you can gain some understanding.

[@MikeHaduck]

How do you explain all the ancient carvings, they are a lot more intricate than any big megalithic stone that everyone is making such a big deal about, and the ones making the big deal are not carvers, stonemasons, quarry men or movers, ???? With respect, mike

[@tomdragon3881]

Not impossible, hard work and a long period of time will get some results. Having a thousand people working on it helps too.

[@Bryan46162]

A million years? You must be lazy.

[@mikeyfoofoo]

What would keep you from rubbing the two stones at the faces where they join? It seems like it would take half the time and the fit would be prefect. Like you said the hard part is lifting the stones. Clearly they could do that. The weight might even help with the grind pressure if you stack them.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Mike, I would bet in some cases they did, Thanks, mike

[@slappy8941]

I'll just wait until you build a megalithic wall with the techniques you claim the ancients used, because others have tried, and all failed.

[@larriyrnir5756]

the only reason people don't is A. they aren't skilled with the equipment and B. it would take several days per stone

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Slappy, I did some videos on conwy castle, cathedral of St. John And the coral castle and as a stone mason they were far more impressive to me than anything I seen a Machu Picchu, thanks, mike

[@marko6695]

Slappy: I'm with you. That's the scientific method at it's core. Can it be duplicated?

[@gordonpatton7507]

Surely you aren't expecting a single person or even a group to replicate something that literally thousands of people built? The moving and shaping of stone using tools and resources available to the time and area has been demonstrated enough that proof of concept has been established. It's a simple extrapolation from that point that more hands make for light work, so to speak. It's okay to be skeptical but cynicism is no one's friend.

[@DashRendar308]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqWxfXiPhtN5iNU

[@american7169]

As a granite worker, you are crazy if you think pounding stones together turns out things like these or granite is softer underground lmao

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi America, I will be putting a video out next week about ollayantambo where I do a small demonstration, thanks, mike

[@american7169]

@@MikeHaduck take 2 slabs of granite 2x2 from quarry cut to perfectly flat and seamed together within microns with only stone and copper tools and then I might put thought into saying you're right. This is still a challenge with modern tooling. I also think people were to worried about eating and raising livestock to spend copious amounts of time a day slamming rocks together

[@utubedestroysmytime]

Wasn’t impressive because it’s not European

[@Dawt_Calm]

You were close on several points. They didn't use handheld stones to rub stones together. They suspended larger stones in scaffolding and ropes, the scaffold could sway back and forth, which rubbed the stones against each other until they fit perfectly. When I was a kid living in MA there was a farmer who built a wall using those methods. My friends and I didn't know anything about stonework and didn't think it was an unusual wall. But remembering back, I know now that the stones he put in place fitted perfectly without any spaces in between them so tightly you "couldn't even get a razor blade between them". It wasn't until a decade ago that I came across a video on megalithic structures that I realized that his wall was unusual. I've been back there but the farm was sold off years ago and turned into condominiums.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Mrdead, that is one way to do it if you got the time, thanks, ike

[@valkenburgert]

A stone mason coming up with these conclusions make sense to me. The most logical, following his understanding of the world and make it fit. The question on how this was build becomes interesting when you look at known history. Humans make beautiful works of art on a smaller scale, something that is within the limits of the technique they are using. Nowhere were insane megalithic building created. Big walls yes, but always within their capabilities. Why carry the stones that far? Most sane people would kindly object if anyone would ask them to do this for no other reason than "entertainment". Even when they are bored haha! Maybe that reasoning works for 2 days but when breaking your back on stones you'll soon dream about being bored again. Moving a 50 ton block for months is not a solution to overcome boredom. But I can totally see how a stone mason would come to that conclusion. Mike comes from 1 point of view and that's an interesting and informative one. In a bigger context the value is little. I assume we all realise it could have been done by simple beating. Question is: Is that a realistic proposal? I think "no". Although new theories could change that. If that whole civilization had some kind of psychological disorder and found peace of mind while working on those stones it could make sense. But then again, is that a realistic proposal? I think "no". Even in this video you'll have to move the stone tens (hundreds?) of time to make them fit. It's more than simple beating. Aside from that there's a lot of evidence of a developed civilization. That doesn't fit the picture of "sitting around being bored". That's a tat ignorant honoustly... "Ah, that civilization back then, yeh, they were just bored, didn't know shit". Bit disappointed with the technique used at the end. For slabs the marking technique was interesting but I miss a technique like that in the solid rock in the end, the only one relevant. All I learned there is that stone breaks if you hit it. Question remains: How do you make them fit? Is there a similar technique there without changing the questions to flat, basically 2D surfaces? Mike, how about finishing that rock you started at the end? Keep track of time (and the amount of times you tried the fit by moving the rocks together), make a rough estimation of the amount of work done in Machu Picchu. Very rough. My guess would be that you'll find out there's not enough time in conventional history to account for that. Now that's a video I would like to see. Skip the lifting and carrying part, just the finishing...

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks valkenburgert, I will det to it, thanks, mike

[@jakesaari7652]

What is the biggest stone you have ever cut with the ancient method?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Jake, I don’t have to use ancient methods, I don’t have too, if that makes sense, thanks, mike

[@jakesaari7652]

@@MikeHaduck Definitely seems more trouble than it's worth!

[@Littlelamb2023]

Hi Mike firstly thanks for taking the time to make your videos. Can you or have you done a video on you making a couple of these granite stones fit together like they do, (good size ones) and move them around to see what will fit best together. i mean no disrespect i would just like to see someone recreate one of these walls so i can stop wondering how they did it! you say its very easy but i need better than you rubbing a couple stones together for 5 seconds! thanks

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Glo, I have a few more videos to do on Peru, I would like to when I get the time, thanks, mike

[@Littlelamb2023]

@@MikeHaduck That would be great if you could. until then ill keep wondering as no-one seems to have a video of them just doing a couple of stones (sad face)

[@heystarfish100]

Amazing Mike! Thanks for sharing your adventures.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks hey starfish I appreciate it, mike

[@farzad6908]

Enjoyed this video very much. Look forward to your thoughts about the knobs and protrusions visible on some stones. If they were used for placement why not break them off afterwards? It appears original builders had an eye for aesthetics would have done so.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Farzad, I feel that way, and I think for the most part they did, but they left some on in case, maybe, I was not there long enough for any final thoughts, thanks, mike

[@priosminimus6969]

s'cuse me...at 16:28 I don't understand what you're saying...are you cutting or colouring the stone with torches?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Prios, yes, today it's called thermal facing, I have a few examples on my videos " stone cutting and making patterns mike haduck and stone work ( part 2) mike haduck, but the hotter you get the stone the easier it is to face it, thanks Mike

[@priosminimus6969]

@@MikeHaduck Hi Mike, sorry, but english is not my native tongue...what exactly means facing? Same topic, different question: would it be possible to weaken a stone locally with high heat and then shock cool it to take out material i.e. shape it?

[@timdarmetko4039]

cool ! how out of breath did you get ? some say this one is pretty hard to do .

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Tim, it's up there, Mike

[@jmcc1976]

The monument (at 4:26 on your video) carved out from one same rock which name you didn't know is called Intihuatana and is supposed to be a solar observatory ... What is your opinion on that? ... I noticed you didn't show us the place were Hiram Bingham claimed to have found a mummy, which is megalithic and has an entrance cut to allow the sunlight hit various parts of the inside according to the distinct inclination of the Sun across the year ... The second story of this structure has a floor carved in a curious way ... You are right on the two kinds of structures of Machu Picchu: megalithic and post-megalithic ... And megalithics are thousands of years old ... Is the same opinion expressed by Daniel Ruzo, who also said there is a small ruin that appears to be an eight-sided ancient pyramid built by the same people that did the megalithic work ...

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Jorge, I can't say who or when they were built, but I don't see what the big deal is about shaping them. I know as a former navigator in the navy you learn a lot about stars just observing them every night, all common sense to me, I appreciate it, mike

[@brett328]

Its the scale of the stones, the transporting of the stones up mountains across valleys. Placing the stones, fitting the stones. Think about how many times you would like to test the fit of the megalithic stone you're fitting into a complex wall on uneven terrain. Think it all the way thru. "The laziest guy"? This is your solution?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Woodwoorker, check out my videos on conwy castle and the cathedral of St. John’s, as a stone mason they are far more than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, my opinion, thanks, mike

[@macplastering]

Wow mike what a trip so glad you did this video people underestimate how smart we are and how smart people where even back then with hard work and knowledge much can be achieved

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Mac, I agree, mike

[@victormgv]

I would love to see that old Egypt video; going to see if it’s on your channel right now. Thank you sir for taking the time, I’ve been looking everywhere for a stonemason’s take on all these ancient sites

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks victor, mike

[@vesna639]

Mike, thank you for sharing what you know. Your videos are awesome.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Vespa, I appreciate it, mike

[@vesna639]

@@MikeHaduck Me again : ) Thank you again for taking the time to do all these wonderful videos, which I am telling friends and family about and reposting on FB & Twttr (because wonderful things and PEOPLE should always be shared!) and for answering my question re stone foundation - I will get it done. No big deal : ) I pray and hope that you or whoever you're with at the VA will be well. God bless you again : )kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnvKkKFvd6yWoZI

[@WillN2Go1]

Great video, better than PBS. Machu Picchu looks in pretty good shape. I'd hazard a guess that the tight joints minimized water intrusion, the lack of mortar and the irregular patterns allowed any water that did seep in to just move the stones a bit when it froze, and then they just move right back when it melted. It could do this almost indefinitely. I'd also hazard a guess that at some point some one just figured out how to match stone shapes so they'd fit together and then they just got really good at the method and kept doing it that way until disruption (Inca conquest, or Pizarro's conquest and European diseases) shut down construction for a few generations. I wonder also if they didn't just leave a gap between stones so they could work both surfaces at the same time, maybe sawing rock dust back and forth on a piece of wood. (the way quarries use carbide and wire to saw blocks). To fit the stones they'd have to start with the narrowest points and work them, maybe lowering the stones and working a larger area. If that's granite, basalt or obsidian is harder and would cut it. I guess the test for this method would be if the two sides were straight across no matter how irregular they were. They'd also have to be able to do multiple stone joints at the same time so there should be a 'join' block in the middle or at the thirds. Might be a bit narrower or fit slightly differently. One problem with finding tool or working marks on stone after a thousand years is it weathers off. What I don't think they would've done is to make a measurement or pattern and do all of their work on the ground. As for moving the stones, there's a guy on KZbin Wally Wallington, an old carpenter in Michigan. He uses levers and a couple of pivot stones to 'walk' huge blocks of concrete. That's been almost definitively proven to be how they moved the Moas on Easter Island. Wally's method and Herodotus' Machine, a cribbing device have my vote, except for that d**d Egyptian carving I saw in the British Museum last year of all the guys hauling on the ropes dragging stones. And I read that they'd found evidence of a long ramp near the pyramids. Well, Egypt was very hierarchical so maybe management made them do it the hard way.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Will, Machu Picchu is tropical, no freezing there, and your right on how they moved them, thanks for the comment, mike

[@dustyWayneJr]

My favorite part is how you default to a diamond tip saw blade to cut the stone as your demonstration. Wondering how the biggest, 20+ ton sized stones were cut with precision back then? So you're saying the natives quarried by hand on top of a mountain, measured, cut, hammered, removed the stone, adjusted cut/hammering, fitted into place, then checked stone next to to one their working on, then moved it out again, made adjustments, then put it back , repeat. All by hammering & rubbing with another stone of the same density & hardness? Really? & achieved super tight fitted joints? & your estimate on how long this method would take to build Machu Picchu? Then you demonstrate how a stone on stone pounding and rubbing will get you pristine, puzzle smoothed, contact surfaces that a sheet of paper can not fit through. Oh wait, you stopped & did not complete that task, so that means you did not demonstrate how you think they did it back then, I wonder why? Maybe too hard for modern stone masons to do? I'm also wondering why you didn't show what looks like melted stone "slag" that shows up now & then at those sites? Or discuss the perfect cylindrical drill holes through granite & basalt. Did they pound those drill holes too? Until a modern stonemason builds with the tools & the stones at their largest sizes that are found in Machu Picchu & meets the exact details that are found at the ruins, we'll never learn what it takes to match the forgotten methods used back then.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi hitman, I agree with the saw and drill marks, the ancient people were not stupid, but I did videos on conwy castle, the Great Wall of China, the cathedral of St. John, coral castle and as a stone mason they were far more impressive than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, Thanks, mike

[@xAnAngelOfDeathx]

Hello common sense, I missed you.

[@T.E.P.]

just watched this again and it's almost like you made all the walls to prove the points you have been repeating from PA. love sharing your vids from your channels with friends and family. thanks again Mike

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Thor, mike

[@hillwalker8741]

I must have seen 100 Machu Picchu videos etc - you have shown quite a few things I haven't seen before - well done!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Trail, Mike

[@JamesSmith-bg5sv]

Great video and I loved your music in it! Do you have a link to the music?

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks James, just search " cadtle" Mike haduck, My music is on my other channel, thanks Mike

[@JamesSmith-bg5sv]

@@MikeHaduck thanks! Subscribed to both and am enjoying your music, my wife too. I many times spend huge amounts of time thinking how the walls in South America were built. I'd love to go there sometime.

[@michaelpanorias6692]

Great video. Saw a show recently about the "Faros" in Egypt . They used molten lead to seal the joints of the grantite block and wooden dowels to lock one to another.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Michael, lots of things to learn over there, I am scheduled to go back in a few months, thanks mike

[@jeffmarty3353]

I really appreciate your can do attitude towards getting these projects done. I'm a big fan.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Jeff, mike

[@tollundman7524]

It's great that someone with the skill set actually went to these locations and explained how it was done,rather than an armchair expert looking at images and saying "no way we couldn't have built that."

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Clive, I appreciate that, mike

[@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb]

No, what's sadder is an "expert" goes to MP and has no clue what he yammers on about.

[@tollundman7524]

@@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb Ok. What's your theory then?

[@suep4530]

@@tollundman7524 probably aliens again lol

[@tollundman7524]

If it was aliens l would have expected them to do a better job. What's wrong with nice square blocks? Lol .

[@liyah1234321234]

if these were built before the inca came, what tools did they use??

[@MikeHaduck]

I have another video about ollayantambo coming out next week with a little more of a demonstration, thanks, mike

[@painterQjensen]

Diddent you just love the raw stonework / masonly so high up? The hours dedicated from a tribe, to built and create such settlements.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi painter, I have to say ( and I know don’t appreciate it) that I did videos on conwy castle, cathedral of St. John, the Great Wall of China, coral castle, and as a stone mason mason I found the, more impressive than anything I seen at Machu Picchu, Thanks, mike

[@IamMuRdA313]

i love all of your videos mike. once again im going to express my appreciation for them! thanks!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Georgia, I appreciate it, mike

[@leathernluv]

I have always loved to hear the opinion of actual stone masons on stone sites. Thank you for this. I was wondering what you might think of Puma Punku. I would love to hear your analysis of possible purposes for cuts or outcroppings, etc. (By the way, I'm usually *that* lazy guy you speak of. That's why I'm an assistant MGR. Get it done right, and easy.)

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi leather, I never been there, so can’t comment, but yep the lay guys always figure it out, lol thanks, mike

[@dixieboy5689]

I find all this highly compelling. Thanks

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, Mike

[@ken_9359]

I used to unload heavy boxes out of trucks. I used to spin the box in one direction and then the other to move it forward. It's not that I'm lazy but I try to work smart and not hard. I try not to expend all my energy on a task and make myself tired. But I did like your comment in another video about finding the laziest guy to move the heaviest stones from one place to another. Where there's a will, there's a way.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Ken and your right, lol I appreciate it, mike

[@marccram6584]

Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. - Archimedes .

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Marc, good one, mike

[@suep4530]

Wow!! what amazing scenery and everything you've shown so far!! looks like a pretty interesting trip!!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Sue, Mike

[@astemet]

Question : how is granite formed into blocks back then? Im asking because when i had to split a small granite stone on way of sewage pipe in foundation - by beating it with iron spike, all i got as 45 minutes of work lot sparkles and no splitting. I'ts seems really crazy to me - granite is is lot like quartz, has quartz cristalles inside its on morh scale 9 - i think. Can tell because I know ceramic tiles coating (glass) is similar. As of Ancent Alien theory it is easy for me to figure out that it possible bulley- rope systems (convertion of momentum) to move large rocks. But shaping the granite, thats hard

[@johndoe6668]

The thing is 45 minutes to you is a long time. 4000 years ago or whenever some of these stoneworks were made, someone could take a year to do one cut maybe two.. That would have been someone's job. "How was your day?" "Same.."

[@emvergara1]

Siim Kasepõl

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Sim, as a stone mason I worked with lots of granite and like anything you got to know how to approach it, thanks, mike

[@Kariakas]

There's so many wacky superstitious theories on these ancient sites, it's refreshing to hear the common sense approach. Places like Egypt and the Incas had expert stone workers that perfected their trade for generations. It shouldn't be that surprising that they made some incredible stuff. I've also heard so many times that they couldn't possibly cut granite with bronze and crap like that, thanks for debunking that part.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Kariakas. I appreciate it, mike

[@stanleytolle416]

One of the things I noticed watching skilled people using primitive tools to accomplished tasks is that they have figured out ways to do things much faster than we think it can be done. Like chipping a rock into shape with another rock might take us hours to do the task while someone skilled can do the same thing in minutes. I am sure that is how these ancient megalift projects got built. The development of these building skills took hundreds of years. Essentially people figured out how to do it. Like moving those giant rocks, one thinks how could anyone do this with the simple tools these guys had. Though, once one sees someone actually move one of these huge rocks, with simple tools, it becomes a duh, why didn't I think of that, moment. It all comes down to skill, thinking, and perseverance.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, I agree, Mike

[@buzzevermore9309]

Perhaps in ancient days, the snails 🐌 were so large, that space aliens decided to stop by and build a nice place to picnic 🧺 Your music sounds great in the background, and I appreciate the volume it was mixed in against the video. Cheers Mason Mike 🍻

[@MikeHaduck]

Cheers also, thanks, mike

[@michaelinminn]

I've been to Machu Picchu twice. It was explained that masons from another, older culture before the Inca Empire built the good stuff. The locals didn't have the talent. Like the Romans, they imported the talent. That's what I came away with. Was it the Aymaras? Not sure. Regardless, nice presentation. Very well done. Thanks BTW, my ancestors were masons from Lorraine.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Michael, I appreciate it, mike

[@tubedude54]

Interesting theory for the smaller stone walls but not the megalithic ones. To think they trimmed and lifted and fit and then lifted and trimmed and repeated hundreds of times for just one block is just too much for me to believe! The lifting devices would have to have been incredible to move them about like that. This would have multiplied the time of construction by factors of 10-20X!

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi tubedude, all the jobs with huge stones that I worked on were pattered first and the fitted, thanks, mike

[@tubedude54]

I understand that Mike... but like you say... they were cut to order for your jobs. So you just fit them together like lincoln logs. These stones at the megalithic sites are all random shapes and sizes and fit perfectly. I suppose they could have gotten them from a huge slab at a quarry and just used a rope saw of some sort to cut them and they would fit perfectly but that's something we will never know.

[@poepflater]

Why is the megalithic stones less deteriorated than the ones above?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi MostlyWeed, they are all made of granite, thanks, mike

[@frederickbowdler8169]

A lot of the limestone is light in weight and thinner in section than it looks from the front . The poliganal shape is made because the mason wants to do less work and so stones are measured and cut to interlock in a natural way with a man made finish for some reason u tubers want to up the achievement which I admit is considerable but not impossible. Limestone varies a lot but it can be carved easily.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, Mike

[@penzman]

Foerster sells tours, Hancock sells books and tv shows. You sell and work rock. I haven't been this pleased in a while on the subject like I am watching your videos.

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks, Mike

[@UN4RACING12]

I wonder how big that mountain was before they were done building those walls.

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi UN4, good question, thanks, mike

[@fernandochavez4312]

Many times when building homes, we use oak or some other fancy wood fir the front door. Rarely is the back door made of an expensive material. I’ve never seen the studs made of oak. Get what I’m saying?

[@MikeHaduck]

Hi Fenando, I guess, thanks mike

[@lifeisabreath]

Best explanation I've heard yet!! Engineers and scientists should always defer to experienced present day craftsman for explaining 'the how they did it'.. answers about ancient construction.. Building really hasn't changed much since then!!

[@MikeHaduck]

Thanks Eaglehead, I agree, mike