Maya Plumbing: First Pressurized Water Feature Found in New World

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (May 4, 2010) — A water feature found in the Maya city of Palenque, Mexico, is the earliest known example of engineered water pressure in the new world, according to a collaboration between two Penn State researchers, an archaeologist and a hydrologist. How the Maya used the pressurized water is, however, still unknown.

"Water pressure systems were previously thought to have entered the New World with the arrival of the Spanish," the researchers said in a recent issue of the Journal of Archaeological Science. "Yet, archaeological data, seasonal climate conditions, geomorphic setting and simple hydraulic theory clearly show that the Maya of Palenque in Chiapas, Mexico, had empirical knowledge of closed channel water pressure predating the arrival of Europeans."

The feature, first identified in 1999 during a mapping survey of the area, while similar to the aqueducts that flow beneath the plazas of the city, was also unlike them. In 2006, an archaeologist returned to Palenque with a hydrologist to examine the unusual water feature. The area of Palenque was first occupied about the year 100 but grew to its largest during the Classic Maya period 250 to 600. The city was abandoned around 800.

"Under natural conditions it would have been difficult for the Maya to see examples of water pressure in their world," said Christopher Duffy, professor of civil and environmental engineering. "They were apparently using engineering without knowing the tools around it. This does look like a feature that controls nature."

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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100504155421.htm


Depiction of Piedras Bolas aqueduct functioning as a fountain. This illustrates one plausible explanation of how the feature used water pressure. Due to destruction of the aqueduct, exact details of the its use are unknown. Note that during the monsoon, excess runoff flows over the feature while the buried conduit continues to function. (Credit: Reid Fellenbaum)

[yellerpup]

1. Fascinating.

:kick:

[WhiteTara]

2. why is the asumption that it is "dumb old civilizations

that can't possibly know anything"?

"They were apparently using engineering without knowing the tools around it. This does look like a feature that controls nature."

[Angry Dragon]

3. Because the church said they were just heathens

So much lost in this world through greed and religion

[WhiteTara]

4. right. one of the biggest criminal organizations

in the world, the Catholic Church. I also propose that religion was formed because of greed. And yes, we have lost a lot.