Scientist tackles mystery of ancient astronomical device

Phys.org, Science X network ^ | January 6, 2015 | Sandi Doughton, The Seattle Times

[SunkenCiv]

Any multiple of five or six would also work, Greeks knew their geometry. To hold it together, they used rivets, and/or the shafts themselves with the protruding end peened over. The state the thing is in (80+ fragments and apparent parts missing) makes me wonder if this one was being shipped as scrap, a common practice then as now.

[stockpirate]

mark for later

[SunkenCiv]

That’s interesting, but the fact is, they had very little folklore about local stuff because neither they nor their ancestors stayed in one place, and killed or drove out their predecessors.

[ApplegateRanch]

makes me wonder if this one was being shipped as scrap,

...or ballast.