The world has never been more technologically advanced than it is now, but that does not mean that some technologies have not been lost in the way. Many of the technologies, inventions, and antique production processes simply disappeared over time, while others still do not fully understand.
Here is five famous examples of lost technology:
5. Stradivarius violin
One of the lost technologies is the process of making violins (and even some instruments) that have the highest quality sound. It was produced by the Stradivari family in Italy (cca 1650-1750), and since it is impossible to replicate the quality of the sound produced, they have become world famous.
Today, there are only about 600 Stradivarius instruments, mostly worth a few hundred thousand dollars.
How did he get lost?
The technique of making Stradivari instruments was known only to Antonia Stradivari and his sons, Omobona and Francesca. After they died, the process died with them. But that did not stop many attempts to revive this story again.
Researchers have tried everything from mushrooms to which instruments have been shaped, to the thesis that wood density is responsible for the beautiful and unique sound.
But, as there are always two (or more) schools of thought. Several studies have led to the conclusion that most people do not even notice the difference in the sound quality between Stradivarius and modern violins.
4. Mechanism from Antikiter
One of the most ancient archeological finds is what is known as Antique Mechanics, a bronze machine discovered by divers on the Greek island of Antikitera in the early 1900s. The mechanism consists of over 30 degrees of transmission, and can be manipulated by adjusting the astronomical positions of the Sun, Moon, and other planets. The device is found among the remains of shipwreck, and it is assumed to date from the 1st or 2nd century BC.
Its true purpose is still not fully known, and the mystery behind its construction and use has been confusing scientists for years. At present, it is thought that Antiquity Mechanics is an hour that could count on the lunar phase, which is why some call it the 'first analog computer'.
How did he get lost?
The sophistication and precision seen in the design of the mechanism suggests that it was not the only device of this type, and many scientists assumed that its use could be widespread. However, the existence of other devices such as Mechanics from Antiquity does not appear on historical records until the 14th century, which would mean that technology had been lost for nearly 1400 years. Why and how - it is likely to remain a secret, especially since the mechanism is still a unique ancient discovery.
3. Steel from Damascus
Steel from Damascus is an incredibly strong type of metal that was widely used in the Middle East in the period between 1100 and 1700 BC. He gained the greatest glory when building swords and knives. Blades made of this steel were known for their miraculous power and cutting capabilities, and they claimed that they could cut stones and other metals, including the lower swords.
It is believed to be made of two types of steel: one from India and the other from Sri Lanka, which were then tossed and twisted.
How did he get lost?
This process of steel production seems to have disappeared around 1750 BC. The exact cause for now is unknown, but there are several theories. The most popular is that the minerals needed for a special recipe for Steel from Damascus had been running out, so the blacksmiths were forced to develop other techniques. The other is that the whole recipe for Steel from Damascus was discovered by chance, and that the blacksmiths actually did not know they had a special technique.
Regardless of the technique, Steel from Damascus is one of those technologies that modern science has not yet fully reproduced.
There are knives and swords in the market that are claimed to have been made of Steel from Damascus - be careful when buying them, because although they are probably durable and well-made, they are not Steel of Damascus. This mysterious technology has been lost for thousands of years.
2. Baghdad Battery
These weird artefacts were discovered in 1936 during archaeological excavations in the village of Khuyut Rabbou'a, located about 20 km southeast of the city center of modern Baghdad.
In December 1939, shortly after World War II, the German archeologist named Wilhelm König found them in the basement of the National Museum of Iraq. He immediately recognized their resemblance to galvanic batteries and published a paper in which he claimed that these old electrical appliances could be used to galvanize gold into silver.
Reconstruction of this device has shown that it could generate electricity in the range of 0.4 to 1.9 volts. Of course, some scientists dispute these claims, because they claim that the reconstructions are incorrect.
How did he get lost?
No one knows with certainty what these devices used, although most evidence suggests that they were used to galvanize decorative objects. Some say that they are used for medical purposes, but one thing is certain - Baghdad Battery is still a mysterious object.
Although it has not been established that the artifact was indeed a battery, if it were to be found - it would become the oldest in the world, discovered for more than a millennium earlier than the one known by Alesandro Volta.
Nobody has yet determined with certainty how far it is and how this technology has been lost, but it is currently popular that it is inspired by the Sasanid Empire period.
1. Greece's Fire (Sea Fire)
Perhaps the most famous of all the lost technologies is what is known as the Greek Fire, a flammable weapon used by the army of the Byzantine Empire. Primitive form of napalm, Greece Fire is a kind of "sticky fire" that could burn even on the water. This weapon was used in the Carigrad defense since the Arab invaders' attack.
It was used in many ways, initially in glass containers like Molotov cocktails, later on as giant bronze tubes mounted on warships from which they fired at enemy ships. There were even smaller species that could be used in modern flame throwers.
How did he get lost?
The technology behind the Greek Fire is certainly not completely strange. After all, modern armies have been using similar weapons for years. Still, the closest fellow with the Greek Fire, napalm, was not perfected until the early 1940s, which would mean that this technology had been lost for several hundred years.
Weapons disappeared after the fall of the Byzantine Empire, and scientists have been trying for years to find the magic formula by which it was made. Modern theories suggest that the gun is probably a cocktail made of oil and other chemicals, including calcium oxide, potassium nitrate or sulfur.
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