From: Simon Hibbs (simonh@msi-uk.com)
Date: Wed 24 Jun 1998 - 11:58:33 EEST
>I understand that rather than 'chip away' at the stones (implying
>chisel-like tools), they actually 'ground' away at them using sand (and
>possibly water). This only makes the feat more remarkable in my >mind!)
1) Find an approximately correctly shaped big rock.
2) Manoeuver it into possition using sledges, wedges and big levers.
3) Prop it in possition about 1-2 feet over the gap it's to fill using
poles - you can still see the socket holes in the rocks to this day.
4) Chip away at the surface untill it's approximately the right shape.
5) Smooth down the surface using abrasives to make a perfect fit.
6) Use levers and wedges again to ease the rock into it's socket.
The socket is also chipped and sanded down to make a good join. They
used a device called a 'scribe' to make sure the socket at rock were
perfectly matched. A scribe is a 1-2 ft long triangular wooden measuring
tool with a pundulum hanging from the peak of the triangle. Put the
scribe between the socket and the block and move it up and down the gap,
making sure the pendulum thread keeps on a notch on the horizontal beam
of the triangle. Wear away the block and the socket untill the scribe
bearely fits all the way aroudn the gap and you're guaranteed a perfect
fit.
Voila!
I saw someone do it on the telly with a multi-tonne block. The fit
wasn't as good as the real thing, but then it was their first attempt.
Simon Hibbs
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