Earths Unsolved X-files (Part 4)

reply to post by zatara


Here is what one site suggests:

Mainstream Theory:
These lenses were used for burning out wounds to prevent infection, light fires or as a magnifier for craftsmen. It is also believed that the lenses were made out of trial and error as the mathmatics needed to formulate the curvature of the lens had not yet been invented.

Alternative Theory:
It has been noted that the quality of these lenses has not been duplicated until the 1950s. It is possible that these ancient people possessed the technology to create these lenses for use in telescopes.

The refractive qualities of the lenses would suggest they (the manufacturers) were acutely aware of "light" properties and how to harness it - who knows really, we can only speculate unless some form of collaborative proof comes forward which specifies their exact usage(s).

My first comment on ATS,please forgive me for being short.The threads you have created in this line are compelling and I love that I've not seen some of them before. Thank you for interesting reading.

Another great thread There is going to be a part 5 right?? You should make it a weekly thing like every Friday or something, would be great

These are really great threads! As a child I was always intrigued by stories such as these, the mystery becomes even better as I get older.

Nice change of pace from the doom and gloom as well. The world still holds many secrets!

It looks like the Black forest haunting site went up for sale in 2011 - not sure what came of this

Black Forest Haunting

reply to post by Sublimecraft


Thanks for this post.

It answered questions I was going to ask.

Great series, op.

reply to post by Sublimecraft


Even though I've read almost all these stories,I love it!!!
My mom used to have boxes of books on these kinds of things in our basement, i grew up feeding myself on them.

Another great thread
s&f

I'll keep my eye out for part 5.

The Shag Harbor Incident always interested me, iI thought one of the best USO incidents I've heard of. Some of the videos I've seen of it are outstanding.

Keep up with the posts. I love reading about mysteries!

Ah, the maddening hum. Occasionally in the past, I've experienced hours-long incidents of deep rhythmic humming, just on the edge of my hearing. It sounds exactly like a truck idling in the street outside would.
For a whole summer, two years ago, I experienced constant undulating sound waves in the house. It wasn't a sound exactly... more felt than heard... and it was distressing, because I could never be sure that it wasn't all in my head.

reply to post by Sublimecraft


I think I can trump you on the Viking lenses:

Wikipedia - The Nimrud Lens

When polishing gemstones by hand, the most likely shape usually conforms to a slightly rounded pebble. If the gemstone was transparent, it would soon have been noted that it would magnify objects held close to the gem.

The aspherical nature of the viking lenses illustrates a high level of craftsmanship, not a high level of technical prowess. The lenses would have been fashioned incrementally towards the desired optical properties until a suitable result was found. Once that shape was identified, it could be copied over and over again.

The short focal length of the Visby lenses indicates that they were probably developed for reading by being placed onto the surface that held the writing.

The extremely short focal length of these lenses and the way that they have been found mounted would indicate that they are unlikely to have been used in a telescope.

Before 1021 AD, the muslim scholar Abu Ali al-Hasan ibn-al-Haitham (also known as Alhazen) of Basra produced a work entitled the "Book of Optics" where he deduced much of modern optical theory using lenses and mirrors. This was about 100-200 years before the Visby lenses were added into their mounts (although the lenses themselves may be older).

BTW, starred and flagged for some really great posts!

reply to post by Sublimecraft

Vikings had lenses for many applications on the open sea. As aid to navigation "iolite" was used to determine the suns direction on cloudy days.

www.crystalwind.ca...
Then there is the "Sunstone".

www.polarization.com...

These are gemstones but any ground crystal has the same properties. They could also start fires, be "paired up" to produce crude telescopes, signal other vessels, and as a magnifying aid to reading maps. The lens shape of some of these resemble the lens in the human eye.

reply to post by Sublimecraft


16. The Viking Lenses...

Probably used to light fires. Much like using ice, but of course a lot easier and portable.

www.youtube.com...

"Viking's pocket lighter"

You know Sublime, you could make a thread every day about this stuff and I would love it

Good Stuff, keep it coming!

Threads like these are what sucked me into ATS in the first place. I used to love getting 'mystery' books out the local library when I was a kid, your last few threads remind me of those days. Good work Sublimecraft, thanks.

Why there are 2 #19?Wrong numbering?

Enjoyable stories btw.

Thanks.

Wow, this is the best one yet! I have never heard of the Viking Lenses, thank you so much for sharing! THIS is the stuff I came to ATS for, it's nice to read real mysteries.

One thought I had about the time slips in Australia: do you think that green/white haze could have been some kind of ectoplasm?

Much love and thanks again,
OnewithAll

Thanks for raising the bar to previous levels.
I think we the ats users needed this.

reply to post by chr0naut


Thanks for that!!!

Great info - 3000years old certainly trumps the viking lenses - although the viking lenses are prettier