He is a retired carpenter named Wallington who lives in Minnesota, the U.S. What do you think he is doing in this picture? This is a modern version of Stonehenge he built only with those items you see in the picture, which are the wood, the tool he made, and his hand. Each stone weighs as much as 1.2 tons. And he is bragging that he can even build a pyramid by using his technique. This has been a topic of conversation for the past month among people who are interested in pyramids.

Here is the question: "How did he build this modern version of Stonehenge?"

(In other words, what technique did he use to hoist and move the stones weighing over 1 ton to the side?)

Hint: "There is no way I can find out the answer." That is true. Well, here is a hint.

This figure describes a principle he used. He had one fulcrum (on the right in the figure) near the center point of balance, and put a weight (the object on the right) to make the entire weight to be balanced on that fulcrum. He then had another fulcrum on the left. Now from here, how did he move the stone?

"I still cannot get the answer." That is natural for you to say so. Here is the answer.

(Officious comment from the author: It is good to rack your brains over the question for a few days rather than to say "Hmm, I donÕt know" after thinking only for 5 seconds and turn to the answer. The answer would not be gone. That way, you can get the habit of thinking at least.)

The AnswerÉaccording to him.

I found that the heavier an object is the easier it is to balance it. Since mass has to obey the laws of physics, it resists movement and once it is set in motion it resists change. Also, once a weight is close to balance on a single point, rotation can be initiated and the object becomes stable. The more weight, the more, inertia the more inertia, the more stable. Therefore the heavier the better. Additional weight or leverage is used and can be shifted so the weight can be balanced on more than one fulcrum. For horizontal movement the fulcrum is also a pivot. Since leverage is not used under the object it does not interfere with motion. In the classes of levers, the lever is always in contact with the fulcrum, input, and the load. When I am using leverage or weight as input, it only comes in contact with the load and the load rests on the fulcrum. Therefore, the load is my lever. There is evidence of fulcrums on ancient megaliths throughout the world. I have spent years rediscovering The Forgotten Technology of our ancient ancestors. In response to Archimedes most famous quote "Give me a lever long enough, and a place on which to rest it, and I will move the world." I respond with "Give it two places to rest and I can also move the world."

Yet, to tell the truth, though I am the one writing so, there is something about his explanation that I find difficult to swallow. It seems that you can move the object if you keep the balance and rotate it, and lift it if you rock it like a seesaw while supporting it on two fulcrumsÉI think. There seems to be no trick used. (I am sorry if I am wrong.) In the near future, he will have a demonstration to show how to move a 10-ton stone. Additionally, he says that it is possible to move an object weighing 60 tons with 7 men. If you would like to know more, please refer to www.theforgottentechnology.com. The "Challenges" might be helpful in particular as he is providing illustrations there.

Now, suppose if this is trueÉ

- There are a great number of megalithic monuments in ancient times, such as Stonehenge, pyramids, moai, and etc. Also in Japan, the stone-stage tumulus in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, is well known. If it was possible to move an object weighing as much as tons with human power, the great part of the mystery would be solves at least.

- This "technique" might be applied also in the present day. For example, it would make it possible to move iron, ship, bridge, house, and other large and heavy objects easily. Moreover, a subject of a walking robot has been increasingly talked about recently, and by making a clever use of this technique, we might be able to reduce the energy it requires for movement.

Translated by Maiko Noda