Flinders Petrie first noticed ancient precision in 1800s. Flinders Petrie first noticed tubular drill holes and striations on drill cores in late 1800s Only during the industrial revolution did technology develop enough to recognize the mystery Before industrial-era tools, observers lacked context to understand what they were seeing
Flinders Petrie documented tubular drill holes and striations on Egyptian artifacts in 1883. The drill holes measured 24 cm long with diameters of 5.3 cm. No tubular copper barrels or wooden drill shafts have been found in the archaeological record from ancient Egypt. Petrie also noted lathe marks on objects predating conventional dating for lathe invention.
Researchers have observed that the witness marks on drill cores indicate high-speed boring techniques, though the exact methods and tools remain subjects of study in Egyptian archaeology.
Key Facts
- Flinders Petrie first noticed tubular drill holes and striations on drill cores in late 1800s
- Only during the industrial revolution did technology develop enough to recognize the mystery
- Before industrial-era tools, observers lacked context to understand what they were seeing
- Petrie noticed lathe marks on objects from time periods supposedly before the invention of the lathe
- Witness marks show astonishing rates of boring through hard stone that exceed modern rates
Source: Incredible Precision in Egypt, Peru & Turkey | Ben Van Kerkwyk | Megalithomania Podcast by MegalithomaniaUK