Excavations in Costa Rica have led to the discovery of a huge, almost perfectly spherical stone. This finding makes experts wonder how such precision was achieved over a thousand years ago.
Archaeologist Francisco Corrales of the National Museum of Costa Rica commented on the find:
A report from the National Museum of Costa Rica explains that such massive objects are called stone spheres of Diquis and are most often found in the region in southern Costa Rica. They were made roughly between AD 300 and 1500 by the predecessors of the Boruca Culture.
The spheres were located in important settlements as an integral part of major architectural structures in order to enhance the prestige of the place and the position of power of the leaders. Subtle surface finishes, near-perfect sphericity, variety of sizes, symbolism and use in public places make them exceptional archaeological artifacts.
Mexican archaeologist and explorer Isabel Medina expressed her opinion:
According to Medina, the decision to leave the spheres partially buried "was adequate for their preservation and subsequent research." This research is already being carried out by a multidisciplinary team from the National Museum of Costa Rica.
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Francisco Corrales studies the technology and tools with which the spheres were created. The quality of production amazed him:
Large blocks of igneous and sedimentary rocks (limestone and sandstone) were selected for the production of spheres. The process involved grinding the surface and chipping with stone tools. The ancient architects used heat, as it allowed to remove "extra" layers of rock, even with simple wooden tools. Other instruments were used to control the roundness of the resulting objects.
The surface was treated with abrasives such as sand. The large spheres have also been polished to give them a shine. Found objects of different sizes - from a few centimeters to 2.66 meters in diameter, which weigh up to 25 tons.
Orb blocks were mined in a quarry located in the foothills of Costeña, in the Cordillera. From there, the extracted materials or already primary processed workpieces were transferred to the prepared areas and already there were brought to the final state.
It is not known how the ancient people moved the quarried stones, but it was a complex work that had to be organized, with the mobilization of people, the use of levers and support bases. Unfortunately, most of the spheres were subsequently moved from their original places, and now we cannot get accurate information about their origin, how they were used.
The lack of accurate data on a scientific basis has over time generated a number of myths and speculations. Underestimating pre-Columbian cultures, some believe that extraterrestrials created unusual structures and objects, while others see traces of the mythical Atlantis in them.
Anthropologists Ivar Zapp and George Erikson argue that the spheres are proof that the Dikis Delta once had a great civilization that was landlocked. In their work Atlantis in America, they argue that the found spheres marked sea routes and were used as navigational tools. The orientation of the chains of spheres pointed to megalithic sites such as the Columns of Hercules (Gibraltar), the Pyramids of Egypt, Stonehenge and Easter Island, suggesting that the Atlanteans were associated with other civilizations and evidence of their existence is present in Costa Rica.