Diquis Stones suggestion for use

[deb]

Pre-Columbian cultures were awake about 4 hours when it was dark (just like us). They (also like us) needed to produce light at night in the most energy efficient fashion. Bowls (such as this one http://www.precolumbiangold.com/images/inca.h67.jpg ) weren't conducive to holding liquid. What were they used for? How about as a light reflector?

So once the civilizations figured out how to disperse light efficiently then every household would want one, right?

Ergo the stone balls. Roll the ball into hot coals until the bottom is hot enough to shape silver or gold. Roll it half way back and place a flat sheet of metal on the rock and allow it to melt into a bowl. Trim it up and hammer some dents so that light is reflected randomly throughout a room. Hang behind a oil lamp and voila there is light at the beginning or end of the day.

The huge stones made lamp reflectors for the meeting places, the smaller stones for regular household rooms.

I haven't researched this, but if the silver or gold bowls aren't found near the round stones would also make sense, since successive raiders on the area would have taken the precious metals, but not the stones.

[Dr. Tim]

There is no evidence at all to support your hypothesis - sorry. The balls required too much work to be used as a form. Besides, beaten copper was usually made on wooden forms. Though the problem of using copper as a reflector was that it turned green and tarnished. Only gold retained the sheen needed. But there are no examples of reflectors of which you speak. Light came from fire, pure and simple. Animal and oil lamps did exist as well. But mostly, in more primitive villages, lights out mean early to bed. In more complex urban centers, lamps were found, to support some form of a night life - though the mythology of most regions include fear of the night - so the inhabitants stayed close to home - within their secure dwellings.

[alexander]

Sounds more like it ha, does anyone still use this site? seems like it's been abandoned.

[Ron Henry]

Everyone knows that those giant spheres were really used in a game of 'Ringer' by the giant aliens. I do have some questions needing attention if anyone can spare the time.
Alexander has a good point since it takes members to keep a site alive. Perhaps Dr. Tim can email every member and remind them of this fact.
We are all on the hunt most of the time and sometimes we forget to feed ourselves by visiting this forum for our discoveries and unique questions.
Have a lovely day.

Cheers,
Ron