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X-rays of the device have indicated that there are at least 30 different gears present in it. British historian Derek Price has done extensive research on what the antikythera mechanism may have been used for. It was not until 1959 that Price put forth the theory that the device was used in astronomy to make calculations and predictions. In 1974, Price presented a model of how the antikythera mechanism might have functioned. When past or future dates were entered into the device it calculated the astronomical information related to the Sun, Moon, and other planets.
This identification was confirmed in 1979 by Kolbjørn Skaare, a leading authority on Medieval Norse coinage, who examined the coin at the Maine State Museum and arranged for neutron activation testing of a small fragment from it. Skaare's analysis confirmed the coin's authenticity as a Norwegian penny issued during the first half of King Olaf Kyrre's reign, AD 1065-1080. The Goddard coin remains the only pre- Columbian Norse artifact generally regarded as genuine found within the United States.
“An assessment of the case was made in 2001 by Romeo H. Hristov of University of New Mexico and Santiago Genovés T. of National Autonomous University of Mexico. This result clears up the doubts of Colonial manufacture of the artifact, and makes the hypothesis of Roman origin –among other possibilities- applicable.
The identification of the head as Roman work from the II-III century A.D. has been further confirmed by Bernard Andreae, a director emeritus of the German Institute of Archaeology in Rome, Italy. According to Andreae "[the head] is without any doubt Roman, and the lab analysis has confirmed that it is ancient. The stylistic examination tells us more precisely that it is a Roman work from around the II century A.D., and the hairstyle and the shape of the beard present the typical traits of the Severian emperors period [193-235 A.D.], exactly in the ‘fashion’ of the epoch."
On the other hand, an examination of the field notes of the archaeologist in charge of the excavation as well as the site itself have not revealed, in either case, signs of possible disturbances of the context (Hristov and Genovés 1999). A thermoluminescence test performed in 1995 by P. Schaaf and G.A. Wagner in the FS Archäometrie unit in Heidelberg, Germany, established its age range to somewhere between the 9th century BC and the middle of the 13th century AD, confirming its pre-colonial provenance.
However, Schaaf and Wagner have objected to the way the dates were described by Hristov and Genoves. Bernard Andreae of the German Institute of Archaeology in Rome, Italy, who examined photographs of the artifact, stated that he believed that it was Roman and proposed the 2nd century AD as its date of origin, based on the hairstyle and the beard.”
The lenses are bi-aspheric and have excellent imaging properties. Their surface appears to be an oblate ellipse, while the surface nearest the eye approaches a parabola. They are so well produced that even computer optimisation has not been able to improve their performance
Originally posted by Silcone Synapse
reply to post by smyleegrl
Check out the near mythical "viking navigation sunstone lens."
Supposedly they refracted light in such a way as to give the vikings the ability to navigate the ocean using the suns position-nothing spectacular there I hear you say...
But these lenses allowed you to do this even with thick cloud or fog,thus becoming very useful,and very before their time.
cosmiclog.nbcnews.com...
The lenses are bi-aspheric and have excellent imaging properties. Their surface appears to be an oblate ellipse, while the surface nearest the eye approaches a parabola. They are so well produced that even computer optimisation has not been able to improve their performance
en.wikipedia.org...
Wow-even todays computers cannot improve upon their performance...How the heck did the vikings make these things?
In 1987, not far from the Zapata track site, paleontologist Jerry MacDonald discovered a variety of beautifully preserved fossil footprints in Permian strata.
Originally posted by Harte
The Vikings used a common calcite crystal - called Icelandic Spar.
You can pick one up off the ground and use it to find the Sun on any cloudy day.
This form of calcite polarizes the light, eliminating a lot of the scattering of the Sun's rays that clouds do.
Really.
Harte
The Ancient Egyptian Light bulb Many researchers in history have brought evidences forward that challenge or even destroy orthodox beliefs. Erich Von Daniken is one of those researchers bringing revelations such as the Ancient Egyptian Light bulb into the light challenging the orthodox belief that Thomas Edison invented the light bulb and Direct Current. In September 1996 the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) aired a documentary based on Erich’s book, “Chariots of the Gods?” entitled, “Chariots of the Gods? The mystery continues”. Within the documentary dramatic video footage was shown that revealed hieroglyphs in central Egypt that resembled a transparent glass tube with a form within it that had the likings of a serpent, obviously representing some kind of light source. Erich was curious if it worked so he took extensive notes of these hieroglyphs and had the light bulb built to “ancient Egyptian” specifications. When powered up, it emitted light. It was indeed a light bulb and it worked. The ancient Egyptians also had a Direct Current (DC) battery.