How much do we know about our past? Scientists often argue about what happened on planet Earth millions of years ago. But how can they give an answer to this question, if even relatively recent events are not clear. For example, on the island of Sicily (Italy), there are stone cylinders. They were made about several hundred years before our era. The technology used to make them is controversial.
Despite the fact that in ancient times the island was a part of the Roman Empire, it was not she who was engaged in "cutting" the cylinders. This is attributed to the inhabitants of Sicily during the rule of Carthage. They could do this for the production of columns that were located in temples and palaces. Carthage was a powerful state with many beautiful buildings. Resources were not spared to emphasize their greatness.
How was the process of creating these massive stone objects of the correct shape? It is assumed that chisels were used. With their help, a circle was hollowed out in the rock, and then deepened. Next, wooden wedges were inserted. They swelled when they were flooded with water. Because of this, the breed was even more destroyed. All that remained was to tie the rope and "break off" the cylinder from the base.
This is a costly process. It took a lot of time, and it took a lot of people to do it. But the task was not fundamentally impossible. Yet not everyone agrees with this point of view. Alternative history buffs believe they could have used large machines that drilled into stone. It looks fantastic. Indeed, at that distant time, nothing of the kind could be discussed. Even electricity was not yet known.
It is not entirely clear why the Romans did not want to use for their own purposes the actually already finished quarry. They also built many large structures in which there were columns. Perhaps they were so tired of Carthage that they did not even want to take advantage of its developments. However, the Roman sources say nothing about this.
The ancient heritage has left us another secret. Perhaps it is difficult for contemporaries to understand how cylinders could be made in ancient times, because now they are not made by hand. We are surrounded by machinery that works much more efficiently. But does this mean that earlier they could not cope with similar tasks on their own?