Basalt pebbles embedded in the tuff were sliced clean through by the rut edges, showing that the tuff had already hardened when the ruts were carved. A listener proposed that the marks may record quarrying by large twin-drum mining machines. Malta's Clapham Junction has an orderly network of converging cart ruts, although its purpose remains debated. Contributor Mike (Wandering Wolf) linked the Maltese ruts with quarry routes and described their layout as more orderly than the Turkish examples. 🪨
Cut pebbles in tuff show ruts postdate hardening; quarrying theory proposed
Key facts
- Basalt pebbles embedded in the tuff were cut clean through by the rut edges.
- This indicates that the tuff had already hardened when the ruts were carved.
- A listener proposed that the ruts could be quarrying marks made with large twin-drum mining machines; this remains the listener's hypothesis.
- Clapham Junction, officially Misrah Għar il-Kbir, is a famous Maltese site with a complex network of converging cart ruts.
- The site's age and purpose remain debated; its layout has not been established as a quarrying pattern.
- Contributor Mike, known as Wandering Wolf, reported associating Malta's ruts with quarrying routes and said he had observed ruts in China.
- Mike contrasted the more orderly layout at Clapham Junction with the more haphazard appearance of the Turkish ruts; this is his interpretation.
Sources
Clapham Junction (Ancient Trackway)themodernantiquarian.com
If you want to see prehistoric cart ruts then Misrah Ghar il-Kbir aka Clapham Junction is pretty much the place to go.
Clapham Junction - Malta's Mysterious Cart Tracksthemaritimeexplorer.ca
Clapham Junction in Malta is a collection of mysterious rock formations that strongly resemble cart tracks, but are they?
Cart Ruts at Misrah Ghar il-Kbir (Clapham Junction)komoot.com
The Cart Ruts at Misrah Ghar il-Kbir, famously nicknamed "Clapham Junction," represent one of Malta's most intriguing historical sites. Located in Siġġiewi,
Malta's Prehistoric “Cart Ruts” Defy Explanationhistoricmysteries.com
The term “cart ruts” arises from their visual similarity to tracks left by carts, but their exact purpose and method of creation remain unknown.
Misraħ Għar il-Kbiren.wikipedia.org
Misrah Ghar il-Kbir (informally known as Clapham Junction) is a prehistoric site. It is best known for its "cart ruts", a complex network of tracks carved in ...
Clapham Junction Cart Ruts | MyMaltamymalta.guide
Clapham Junction, officially called Misrah Ghar il-Kbir, is widely known for its mysterious Cart Ruts. Many scientists tried to find out the way these.
Most Maltese cart ruts date to the Classical era, not ...archaeologymag.com
A survey of 2628 tracks finds most Maltese cart ruts date to the Classical era, with no solid proof of a prehistoric origin.
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