Historische Transporttechnologien für Steinblöcke und Lasten

[Sculpteur]

Stone block transport in ancient Egypt
Here's a quick video of the potential use of wooden structures found in ancient Egypt to carry blocks of stone (and other loads). The use of the apparatus for which there is a clear find from ancient Egypt has been checked and assessed by me from a stonemasonry point of view for what I believe to be the most obvious use.
The actual effective use outside of a model test under real conditions would still have to be provided and proven [see sources].
The archaeological finds for ancient Egypt show numerous pieces of evidence for apparatus constructed from wood [Goyon 1990,138*], the purpose of which is still discussed today. The apparatus, which resembles a kind of see-saw, but somehow also resembles a sled with strongly curved running surfaces, is sometimes associated by Egyptology with the stone transport of the ancient Egyptians. This video shows - initially in a model experiment - that a stone transport (or load transport) with such equipment would actually be effectively possible from my point of view as a stonemason and stone sculptor.
My perspective on the use of the equipment in stone transport differs from the previously assumed possibilities of covering stone blocks with eight such devices in segments in order to make stone blocks rollable [see e.g. Winkler, 2001]. I consider this method to be rather improbable and much less obvious than the theory I have presented here due to the required material expenditure and the problem of the different stone block sizes that are used, for example, in the Cheops pyramid [see e.g. Goyon, 1990].

* Author's note on Goyon, 1990, p. 138 (Method for fitting stone blocks according to Clarke-Engelbach):
As an author, I do not share Clarke-Engelbach's theory of fitting stone blocks by resting them on sled-shaped wooden constructions; I see the main focus of such apparatuses as shown in Goyon S, 38 much more in stone transport.
I do not share Clarke-Engelbach's theory of fitting stone blocks by resting them on sled-shaped wooden constructions; I see the main focus of such apparatuses [as shown in Goyon, 1990, S, 38] much more in stone transport).

SOURCES:

books:
Goyon, G.: Die Cheopspyramide - Geheimnis und Geschichte; Weltbildverlag, Augsburg, 1990; S. 138

Youtube:
Youtubechannel: Handwerkskunst_Handicraftarts
channel operator: me. Vinzenz Maria Hoppe
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy6gO ... BkjqTgOAiA
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 13:17 MEZ
video source: https://youtu.be/Xx7fg8DHTMM?si=x4y13GJ9aLAWD1lb
video title: EXARAE (2023,1) : Transporting stone blocks effectively with ancient Egyptian equipment
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 13:17 MEZ

Youtubechannell: Handwerkskunst_Handicraftarts
channel operator: me. Vinzenz Maria Hoppe
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy6gO ... BkjqTgOAiA
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 13:34 MEZ
video source: https://youtube.com/shorts/qIUOXvfcbDc? ... ejwQdUfR9N
EXARAE (2023,2) : Transporting stone blocks effectively with ancient Egyptian equipment
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 18:34 MEZ

[LaraC]

Very interesting! It makes a lot of sense, provided the ground is not too soft! I use the same principle to move heavy furniture, it is very practical.

[Sculpteur]

Yes, it's a simple method that, in principle, has probably been used for ages and should be known to almost anyone who's familiar with moving heavy loads; With the "seesaw" the method was taken to the extreme by the ancient Egyptians in terms of effectiveness, provided that the theory has no errors. The whole principle has affinities with cribs and a stumbling seaman's gang. I assume that there are still some interesting variations possible with the method - I will try them out soon. I have no idea why - to my knowledge - nobody has figured it out yet: there are the most curious theories about the wooden tools that have been found and attributed to ancient Egypt.

[Addendum: if the method can actually be confirmed with valid data, in my opinion it would be particularly well suited to transporting a large volume of rather small (and mainly bulky) blocks of stone. It should be mentioned here that the Cheopspyramid, for example, seems to consist largely of rather smaller, bulky blocks of stone and filling material.
For the overall topic see also this extremely interesting stone transport project in connection with the sculptures of Easter Island, which may have been quoted here somewhere in the forum:]
(German language source)

SOURCES:
[Note: Internet sources are by definition not link recommendations.]

Internetpages:
homepage: Archäologie Online
channel operator / creator: Archäologie Online
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.archaeologie-online.de/
Date and time of access: 03.09.2023; 11:57 MEZ
page source: https://www.archaeologie-online.de/nach ... uren-2090/
page title: Osterinsel: Archäologen rekonstruieren Transport der monumentalen Moai-Figuren
Date and time of access: 03.09.2023; 05:30 MEZ

Youtube:
Youtubechannel: National Geographic
channel operator / creator: National Geographic
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NatGeo
Date and time of access: 03.09.2023; 11:53 MEZ
video source: https://youtu.be/YpNuh-J5IgE?si=eWsBSGscvBwxsWPR
video title: Scientists Make Easter Island Statue Walk
Date and time of access: 03.09.2023; 05:35 MEZ

[Sculpteur]

Here is another small video on the topic that deals with the transport of stone blocks according to the method presented here in a confined space [qed; see sources; YT1].

[Addendum: Here is another short video on the theory of transporting loads on just one skid, which would have been technically feasible with the means and options available to the ancient Egyptians (there is no direct, clear evidence for this transport technique. The MEthod however, shows affinity to the methodology already presented here.
[addendum end]

https://youtu.be/KcByrC9CoIM?si=l8Cx0frR1_2dpeWv

SOURCES:

Youtube:
[YT1:]
Youtubechannel: Handwerkskunst_Handicraftarts
channel operator : me. Vinzenz Maria Hoppe
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy6gO ... BkjqTgOAiA
Date and time of access: 03.09.2023; 11:41 MEZ
video source: https://youtube.com/shorts/037BoFGaTvI? ... yVU9-b2_7_
video title: EXARAE (2023,3) : Transporting stone blocks effectively with ancient Egyptian equipment
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 11:42MEZ

[YT2:]
Youtubechannel: Handwerkskunst_Handicraftarts
channel operator : me. Vinzenz Maria Hoppe
main page of the Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLy6gO ... BkjqTgOAiA
Date and time of access: 05.09.2023; 12:46 MEZ
video source: https://youtube.com/shorts/KcByrC9CoIM? ... 59dv6vq9Ho
video title: EXARAE (2023,4) : Transporting stone blocks effectively with ancient Egyptian equipment
date and time of access: 02.09.2023; 12:47 MEZ