(no subject)

During an interesting discussion with ryanthewatcher about archaeology, an' stuff the topic of "Vitrified Scottish Forts" came up. Now I was sceptical that there wasn't an expalantion for them, and I didn't think that you needed to invoke some kind of Graham Hancock-style uber-techno civilisation that's been completely lost.

So i did a little google. And came up with this...

http://www.brigantesnation.com/VitrifiedForts/VitrifieedForts.htm

Which tries to explain how it was done- an indeed that you don't need some kind of atom bomb- just heat in the right place- with the right type of rocks.

"(1) Many of the Primary rocks, particularly the schists, gneisses and traps, which contain large quantities of potash and soda, can be readily fused in the open air by means of wood fires—the alkali of the wood serving in some measure as a flux. (2) The walls are chiefly vitrified at the weakest points, the naturally inaccessible parts being unvitrified. (3) When the forts have been placed on materials practically infusible, as on the quartzose conglomerates of the Old Red Sandstone, as at Craig Phadraic, and on the limestones of Dun Mac Uisneachain, pieces of fusible rocks have been selected and carried to the top from a considerable distance. (4) The vitrified walls of the Scottish forts are invariably formed of small stones which could be easily acted upon by fire,whereas the outer ramparts where used, are not vitrified and are built of large blocks. (5) Many of the continental forts are so constructed that the fire must have been applied internally, and at the time when the structure was being erected. (6) Daubrée, in an analysis which he made on vitrified materials taken from four French forts, and which he submitted to the Academy of Paris’ in February 1881, found the presence of natron in such great abundance that he inferred that sea-salt was used to facilitate fusion."

What they don't explain is why do it in the first place. The explanation they come up with is "its ritual"- which doesn't explain anything.

Now I'm not saying this is the final word- they themselves sya this is work in progress. But while there are more things in heaven and earth- its nice to have an explanation for them.