AmericasWheel

I shudder to look, Pinquin. Most archaeological stone objects, once removed from the original site become useless and are virtually worthless for telling what they were used for in the past. The robbing of sites to carry off what could have been valuable has become a very serious problem

Without being found on properly recorded site where the surrounding evidence shows the item was truly of American making, it becomes impossible to determine who made it, when and what for. Once removed from its culteral setting it becomes just another bit of mysterious junk that could have been anything stored in a Mormon church or wherever else.

As far as I found out, the "tooth wheels" of the figure 2, above, it was common in the Peruvian civilizations. They where, indeed, mace heads used in battle. They existed in several cultures, included Moche. However, it is still amazing how closely look to a piece of machinery. Just a strange coincidence and nothing more

Pinguin

 

Originally posted by pinguin As far as I found out, the "tooth wheels" of the figure 2, above, it was common in the Peruvian civilizations. They where, indeed, mace heads used in battle. They existed in several cultures, included Moche. However, it is still amazing how closely look to a piece of machinery. Just a strange coincidence and nothing more Pinguin

Compare the object on the left of the second photo with these new photos. Look at the relative precision with which the teeth are made compared with the new objects.  It's what sets it apart from all the others.

Yes. It is getting interesting. I saw a page plenty of calculation on physic about the dynamics of the Peruvian mace. It was a methalic weapon that rotated during the attack, and the momentum of inertia produced an effect similar to a sword.

I read what pinquin said "There is an strange collection of wheels in the Americas done by the mormon church in here" and took the phrasing  to mean the objects existed inside the church. Sorry if I'm wrong. Then I have opinions about this, so far as I'm concerned (and many governments) any unauthorized removal of objects from a site is looting.

I'm tossing around the rubber theory, could be a degree in it for someone if they want to take it up, hey it's free as a gift from me! They did play with the balls, but as stated the rules are unknown. Could it be they were exercising with the balls to become experts in handling them? Could the reward be that they became overseers of building sites where the rubber balls were used to move around heavy weights?

I have seen much the same principals used in modern technology. I wish people would drop this silliness of viewing them as el locos who sacrificed virgins on Saturday night and holidays and filled in the rest of their week  by forcing teams of slaves to build their elaborate buildings.

Of course the balls had other purposes. They could mean all sorts of things if you bring in religion. They probably still are laughing their ass off about the stupid way in which the invaders are so strung up on things that have nothing to do with loving the earth as our partner. What the balls were really used for and the way they were used wouldn't survive for rubber is biodegradable yet always replaceable if needed. It could be used for a whole range of purposes but became too expensive a long time ago.   

Edited by elenos - 23-Jul-2007 at 09:08

The Roman games started every morning with blessing to the gods and were asked that every death be pleasing to them. The, the Romans bet huge sums on the outcome of the contests in imaginative ways, how long they would last before they  die, how many wounds they would receive and so on. Sacred games of death are well known and the Old World and the New, that is if you can get hold of the details. I have got some books because I'm fascinated by ancient rituals, but most people don't want to know because it freaks them out. Once you get past the stage of having nightmares it's quite an interesting topic and much the same the world over, but you still can run across those that make your stomach churn.

Now that you have told me of the betting and how they still play the game (not like they have the Roman games anymore!) the similarities are more amazing. I did see one article of known instances of the original natives using rubber webbing to hold large items and a kind of rubber rope. You don't mean "Jai alai" as a ball game do you? (sure I spelt that wrong) What size balls are used in the present games?


Edited by elenos - 23-Jul-2007 at 18:58

Originally posted by edgewaters Pinguin's pictures have hurt my brain. They are even more frustrating and maddening than the toy alone.