The "purely ritualistic" explanation falls short because rituals always serve concrete objectives. The military theory fails too, since platforms often took generations to build, far beyond any single conflict. They lack battlements and protective curtains, leaving defenders exposed. Many sit in low-visibility valley middles, far from rivers or mountain passes. Even Sesi, a secondary city, has three platforms. Their striking visibility suggests they were meant to be seen, not hidden.
Ritualistic and military explanations for empty cyclopean platforms rejected as inadequate
Key facts
- The 'purely ritualistic' explanation is criticized as incomplete because rituals always have concrete objectives even if based on superstition
- Military theory fails because platforms often took generations to build, making them irrelevant to immediate warfare
- Platforms lack battlements and protective curtains, leaving soldiers on top exposed rather than protected
- Many platforms are located in low-visibility areas like valley middles, away from strategic points such as rivers or mountain passes
- Sesi, a secondary city, has 3 platforms, undermining the theory they were placed at strategic locations
- Platforms are visually exposed and striking, suggesting they were meant to be seen rather than hidden for defense
Sources
Striking platformen.wikipedia.org
In the archaeological study of lithic reduction, the striking platform is the surface on the proximal portion of a lithic flake on which the detachment blow ...
ROSETTA: Remote Observation and Sensing Technologies ...cla.purdue.edu
The ROSETTA CI will be the first public-facing platform for computational archaeology allowing users to contribute, manage, and analyze remote sensing data
Archaeological Site Modelingisac.uchicago.edu
They help archaeologists comprehend ancient structures and sites. Computer models allow archaeologists to accurately measure and analyze ancients monuments ...
Archaeology in America: Hohokam Platform Moundscore.tdar.org
The prehistoric Hohokam people of central Arizona constructed platform mounds at more than 100 sites between AD 1250 and 1450.
Workshop 4 - Platforms and Other Attributesstonetoolsmuseum.com
In this workshop, we will look at finials and detachment scars, and the platform types that occur on some of the stone tool models.
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