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Trethevy Quoit in danger
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tiompan
tiompan
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Re: Trethevy Quoit in danger
Mar 03, 2013, 12:05
Littlestone wrote:
We don’t know that it has stood for millennia in it present form, nor can you argue that, “...portal tombs with their extreme sloping capstones or massive capstones perched on three points and also sloping...” are any less stable than a horizontal capstone on four points. In fact, without any formal training in structural engineering, I'd hazard to say that the former is probably more stable than the latter, certainly easier to build and, to return to aesthetics, far more pleasing to the eye :-)


There's no evidence to suggest that Trethevy has been modified structurally , apart form the removal of cairn material .The burden of proof would be on anyone who would suggest otherwise . The obvious playing about with stability is a major component of the monuments aesthetic and the builders didn't go for the easy option . Sloping and massive capstones are the main reason for collapse . I don''t see how a sloping capstone is any easier to set or more stable than level one . If the builders wanted stability and a common sense approach they would not have built portal tombs at all .
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