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Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 52: Jul-Aug 1987 |
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Costa rica's neglected stone spheres
Books and articles on Stonehenge, the Easter Island statues, and the Egyptian pyramids are legion. Granted that these structures are important and intriguing, we still ask why Costa Rica's meticulously wrought stone spheres are languishing in the wings of science. They epitomize exquisite workmanship. Such geometric perfection rendered in granite is remarkable-- -for any ancient culture. Lastly, the stones' purpose completely escapes us. Why strew such masterpieces of stoneworking around and even buried under the dark jungle floors?
M.T. Shoemaker also wonders about these things in a nice recapitulation of the stone-sphere mystery. His compilation of facts and figures only impels us to learn more about the spheres and what their shapers had in mind.
- The spheres are found on the Diquis River delta, near the Pacific coast of southern Costa Rica.
- Stone-sphere sizes range from an inch to 8 feet in diameter.
- At least 186 spheres have been recorded in the literature. Surely many more were destroyed and other remain undiscovered.
- No local source exists for the granite; and no stone-working tools have been found near the spheres.
- "The best spheres are perhaps the finest examples of precision stonecarving in the ancient world." The maximum circumference error in a 6-foot, 7-inch diametre sphere in only 0.5 inch, or 0.2%.
- The spheres are often grouped, but no general system or alignment mode seems to exist.
- "One very disturbing mystery emerges in examining the Diquis culture. The superb stone-carving skill necessary for the creation of the spheres was not applied to any other object." Why?
Such are the salient facts. To our regret, they tell us little about the How, Why, and perhaps Who of the spheres. (Shoemaker, Michael T.; "Strange Stone Spheres," Pursuit, 19:145, 1986.)
Reference. Costa Rica's stone spheres are covered in greater depth in our handbook: Ancient Man. This book is described here.
Disposition of six stone spheres on Farm 4-35C, in Costa Rica.