TOOLMARKS

Introduction

The first picture is of one of the stones of the Andros platform, and led to speculation by the discoverers that the square indention or hole that is visible might be a toolmark. Inspired by this, and having the known pictures from Peru in mind, the latter were subjected to a search of similar signs, turning up pictures 3 to10 (among others). A further search of other sites known for ancient stone remains, Yonaguni, Bimini, and the Pacific, also gave examples from there. In most cases one has to check the enlargements to notice them, and in the underwater pictures the cases are less certain, because their poor lighting makes it difficult to distinguish between indentions and protrusions.
 

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6	7	8	9	10
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16	17

Analysis

The more or less square marks are a frequent enough to collect a fair number of them from a limited amount of pictures, and from most sites. If they have a common cause, this cause must be quite general. The interpretation as toolmarks is possible, though there is no direct evidence for this.

However, in modern times similar "toolmarks" can also be found, see the thumbnails below:
 

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These pictures are images of road surfaces that are made of asphalt or tarmac. Asphalt or tarmac is a mixture of tar, the very heavy residue of refining oil, and stone grit. At normal temperatures, asphalt is solid enough to carry heavy lorries. However, at temperatures reaching the eighties or hundreds, its gets more and more fluid, which property is used to lay the asphalt more or less like a carpet, using specialized machines. Afterwards, the asphalt is steamrolled, and cooled down by pooring water over it. However, it still remains moldable for a considerable amount of time, and if one makes a dent in it during this time, the dent stays during its working life. This is of course how the "toolmarks" in the asphalt or tarmac roads have come about: some pole, mostly squarish, has been rested on it, leaving the squarish dents. In the last picture one can see a dent that has a similar form as that in one of the "weary stones" from Peru, see here. Also remarkable: the frequency and distribution with which these modern toolmarks can be found is rather similar to that in the known Peru pictures. It is left to the reader to draw his own conclusions (note: in making these photographs the author noted that he tended to have the marks at the edges of the frame. Inspection of the originals shows that these also tend to have the toolmarks at the edges of the blocks. This suggest that the marks may have been caused by "tools" that have been used as levers to position the blocks).

To follow the line of investigation of this site, go to the Yonaguni introduction or the Bimini gallery, dependent of your earlier route.