I was at all these places when they were being built. Its pretty amazing how much time you have to polish and grind a stone when there are no books,tv, and radio.
The huge stones is just one part, how do you explain sites with very very large stones fitting together with no mortar, this is a very common occurence when looking at ancient megalithic sites. Or how about the first site i linked puma punku, how do you explain those intricately cut stones? They look like they were done on a CNC machine.
It's not inconceivable, we simply don't know which exact tools were used.
I recomend you https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_architectura.
This is just that thread about animals being more happy than humans in a different flavor.
Inconceivable to you. There is plenty of literature and videos showing the physics behind moving giant blocks of stone with only man power and how things like the pyramids could be built over a decade or two. Just because you want to hand wave it away doesn't make it not true.
Don't underestimate the phenomenal moving power of masses of humans coupled with the intelligent use of simple machines. You also have the development and use of cranes starting in 600BC.
Also, FYI there aren't "multitudes" of moved stones as big as the unfinished obelisk - there are only a handful. you also have to take into account that size does not directly correlate to weight when you're dealing with stone monuments because the density of the material plays a huge role (Basalt/granite can weigh 50% more than soft stones like tuffa).
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
^ Mostly this. If there is a misconception, it is mostly that people mistake our ancestors for being incapable - and then are amazed by what they accomplished - rather than acknowledging that they are underestimating our ancestors - they assume there is some greater explanation.
Also on the crane thing, 1200 tons isn't really that much anymore - the biggest gantry cranes on earth lift an order of magnitude more than that comfortably - and could probably do significantly more (but aren't rated 'safe' for it, where the safety limit is usually set way below the actual lift potential). Lots of lattices could probably lift 1200T now, and there are even now rough terrain cranes in that range:
No doubt 1200T is massive to be moving on logs and what not, but also consider the possibility that such a massive obelisk may have been meant to be carved together so the stone matches, but then cut into more manageable slabs for transport - then stacked on-site - to create a seamless appearance (like many columns).
Also the quality of cuts isn't all that impressive actually, you can do it too with only rudimentary supplies - the key to very smooth cuts isn't lasers and diamond grinders, it's patience and attention. Since most of these buildings were of religious nature - time was on their side.
This.
Read The Everlasting Man, by GK Chesterton. We have smart phones today so we think we are so smart and progressive ... but nothing but narcissism really supports that claim (and a few missteps in science--like some dubious medical theories--which we are still making plenty today).
http://www.ancient-wisdom.com/top50stones.htm
I dont know how accurate this is today (maybe larger stones have been found since its publication) but its a resource nonetheless.