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... Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 33: May-Jun 1984 Issue Contents Other pages Home Page Science Frontiers Online All Issues This Issue Sourcebook Project Sourcebook Subjects The inca's use of bismuth From Machu Picchu, Peru, comes a unique artifact: a llama-head knife made from two types of bronze. The knife blade and stem are made from low-tin bronze (not at all unusual), but the llama head is bronze with 18% bismuth. Bismuth occurs as a native metal in Peru and it is not surprising that the Incas knew of it. This is the first artifact, however, containing any appreciable proportion of bismuth in bronze. The authors of this paper believe that the use of bismuth was intentional for at least two reasons. (1 ) It gave ... llama head an attractive lighter tone than the rest of the knife. (2 ) The handle was cast directly on the stem, and the use of bismuth in the bronze would prevent the bronze from expanding too much during solidification. The handle, therefore, would be more securely attached to the stem. The Incas thus seem to have been better metallurgists than we have supposed. (Gordon, Robert B., and Rutledge, John W.; "Bismuth Bronze from Machu Picchu, Peru," Science, 223:585, 1984.) From Science Frontiers #33, MAY-JUN 1984 . 1984-2000 William R. Corliss ...
Terms matched: 2 - Score: 94 - 15 May 2017 - URL: /sf033/sf033p01.htm

... Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 49: Jan-Feb 1987 Issue Contents Other pages Home Page Science Frontiers Online All Issues This Issue Sourcebook Project Sourcebook Subjects Inca walls and rockwall, texas First, we have what seems to be a new Inca wall of impressive proportions. This story began when R.Chohfi, a UCLA graduate student was examining aerial photos of the Machu Picchu region in Peru. He noticed a straight line where no archeological ruins had been recorded. Friends put up money for Chohfi to journey to Peru and investigate. His hunch was that, since straight lines are rare in the jungle, something manmade must be there. He was right. He found a wall more than 7 feet thick. at least that high, and more than 1,000 feet long. Other ... were also found in the area, suggesting the existence of a major new archeological site. (Dye, Lee; "Incas: UCLA Student May Have Opened a New Door," Los Angeles Times, October 4, 1986. Cr. E. Krupp.) Next, let us consider Rockwall, Texas, a small town named for a strange wall, mostly buried, that exists in the area. We have had inquiries about this structure but have little in the way of substantial data. Just arrived is a facetious newspaper item that relates how, some 50 years ago, R.F . Canup excavated part of this wall. He dug 8 feet down and eventually unearthed about 100 feet of the wall. That was enough to convince him that it was the masonry wall of ...
Terms matched: 2 - Score: 85 - 15 May 2017 - URL: /sf049/sf049p02.htm
... of evidence suggesting that there were ancient contacts between South America and Easter Island. The Rapa Nui legends mention the arrival of strange men (about 25) from the east. Excavation of the ancient Easter Island tombs in 1981 revealed that some of the skeletons belonged to American Indians. The wall of carved stone at Vinapu on Easter Island is almost identical with the South American stone structures at Pisac and Machu Picchu. (Wheeler, Jim; "Comment on Ben Finney's Review," Archaeoastronomy, 5:8 , July-September 1983.) Reference. Many articles on the anomalous diffusion of culture are presented in our Handbook: Ancient Man. For ordering information, go to: here . From Science Frontiers #29, SEP-OCT 1983 . 1983-2000 William R. ... ...
Terms matched: 2 - Score: 73 - 15 May 2017 - URL: /sf029/sf029p01.htm