Nubs on Columns?

Rare occurrence of nubs on column segments, spotted by myself and ZiggyDan. Oval Plaza of Jerash and the Temple of Garni Armenia. I have not heard any other researcher mention these, nor have I seen them anywhere else. I think they may be connected to other examples of nubs on bevel blocks and polygonal blocks. Perhaps this implies geopolymer/concrete? I'm open to discuss it.

[Hscaper]

They would clean off the nub for final production like we do with injections of today.

I would say they used the nubs and holes to wrap the columns with fabric or some sort of material and those pieces were held at the nub or hole point.

[Foundry_made]

I have worked in the plastics industry, and your theory about the nubs being gates or sprues left behind from a molding process is perfectly plausible, and I have seen things that look like inclusions and voids in some of that ancient stone work, and these are defects that occur in a liquid or plasticated molding process. I think you're on to something.

[budcat]

Great presentation!! I think you are right these are likely "cast" as you explain. Bevels, nubs, metal cleats, polygonal walls, star forts....I think we need to talk about "standardization" of building methods, processes, planning, etc. In ancient times, it sort of suggests more worldwide "communication" than we can imagine. Nice work!! Thanks for the excellent presentation!!⚡🌚⚡

[nhma]

I really like this injection mould explanation and metal scavengers idea.

Hypothesis: we see pairs of nubs in walls because pouring through one hole is difficult due to trapping of air, the second nub was an air exit hole. Could the geopolymer expand slightly when setting causing nubs to grow from the holes of the cast?

[bjrnfodnes]

When casting you will need not only a hole to pour the material in the mould. A " sprue " that gives a later " gate mark "but also gassing holes if the blend gives up much gas when hardening. it may also be very toxic if mercury was involved or other aggressive acids. That may be why the gate marks was left during hardening and not carved off. Seems also the builders was very focused on functionality of the buildings and not so much focus on the small blemishes like the gate marks.

[TheBootlander]

So I'm very late to the party on commenting here - but regarding Jerash; were those columns originally one piece? There's not a shred of uniformity in section length and the majority of them look to have been levelled off at the breaking point then reassembled. It's difficult to tell but at 9:11 the column to the immediate right of your mouse pointer seems to be a single piece for 3/4 of it's length?

[chukzombi]

maybe where those holes are, there once was ornate carvings? looters hammered around them in order to break them outof the blocks to sell off later?

[ocrun]

I think you're right, ancient tweekers vandalized the structure to get the copper.

[bazdaniels]

I love the geo-polymer suggestions I've been hearing recently. When I was in high school back in 1991 a teacher had us do an exercise, each of us presenting a theory on how the stones at Stonehenge got there, and he specifically asked how they were transported from so far away. In our initial discussion I suggested maybe they simply "made" the rocks. The other kids scoffed and the teacher dismissed the idea and said I would not get credit if I turned in that theory. Wow. So I made up a story about a giant eagle that moved them for the Druids who knew eagle language like Gandalf. Teach' had no problem giving me credit for that!

... but making rocks isn't too far off from geo-polymer softening & shaping of rock.

[edwardleroy]

Injection molding, I agree. IF you can inspect some of the capitals at close distance you may find small "sprue" evidence or "vent" evidence allowing the complete fill of the detail. The holes in postilions where it would appear to be "nubs" may be the evidence of "nubs". If the fill tube is taken away from the "sprue" fill position the "nub" is left. If the molded part remains in the mold a period while curing and is where the sun or wind can hit the "nub", thr "nub" may dry faster than "main part", pillar or block etc, and the block is not cured and still soft. The "Sprue Nub" could be much more easily removed leaving a hole where the sprue is hard and block material is still soft.. This would be a convenient tool/operation in the stacking of blocks by removing a nub that would stop the blocks from setting flat together. Evey block would have a sprue nub or a sprue nub hole. Most of them may be hidden where blocks are mated or inside the wall. Or the sprue nub could have been smoothed when the fill tube was removed.

[ancientalternativeview]

The Greeks and the Romans most certainly were experimenting with different forms of pouring and moulding of different forms of stone. These nubs are prevelant in alot of sites in both Greece and all over Europe and is indicative to me both were trying to replicate prior advanced civilizations geo polymer techniques and with alot of success by the looks of these nubs there certainly not lifting holes as there not uniform at all.. I agree with your comment there left from the pouring process and the nub is over spill.. This is a great publication Andrew good to see you doing so well. Great research well found to you and ziggy Dan all the best for your day these details are vital to the origional builders being found as this technique was used in far more ancient cultures.. I'm. Shocked there is no bevels there can't explain why.. Crazy.. The filler squares are also crazy well pointed out Andrew not sure on those? The bevels are amazing they almost look. Brand new and most definatley are the most detailed I've seen well found..!!

[gitmoholliday]

If you cast concrete, a builder normally will strengthen the concrete with some steel bars inside right ?? the problem with that is in time the steel will corrode and expand so the concrete on the outside will crack and weakens the structure.
Also the concrete must be pored inside a mold.. the mold must be strong not flexible, so the mixture can't expand and damage or torque the outside mold.

What if instead of using steel bars.. a builder would use clamps or bars made
of the same polymer material ( only these clamps are allready solid )
imagine You have a somewhat flimsy wooden box / mold
and strengthen the walls of the ( mold ) box, with these solid polymer clamps,
pore in the still liquid polymers and after hardening nobody can see
the difference between the polymer clamps inside the mold and the polymer endproduct
( with exception of the end of the clamp sticking out )

so in short :
maybe these nubs are actually infused bolts of the same material originally holding the blocks / casings together ?

[ronaldwhisenhunt]

I believe as a theory is nubs are used for a pulley system to raise blocks. And Coloma with out slippage

[ZiggyDan]

...If they the nubs were lifting bosses they would have more than one nub.

[myview]

An interesting idea about the nubs being from casting of the stones. The problem being is why would they leave little protrusions on each casting when it would be much more easy on the eye to have an expert stonemason chisel them off. 😊.

[stephsmanicshenanigans]

The nubs look like handles to me, just enough to grab and lift it up. Especially since that one you showed has two on it so the others are probably just on the other side. How heavy are each of the column pieces, do you happen to know? Giants maybe moving them? I mean, I guess some sort of pulley system could have been used to lift them up by the nubs but idk, my mind isn’t letting me imagine how that’s possible right now. Awesome video, subscribed!

[zitrone]

In the round elements with only 1 nub, I guess that’s just a practical part for shipping and transport, of they are transported standing upwards, they may fall and damage. So they have to be transported laying, so, having the nub on it, it will not roll away very far, in case they roll at all, it will stop by the nub, when the speed is slow (with this size and weight). Can’t see any other reason on the round parts.

[MrRichMurphy]

Maybe to hold plaster base coat. On other places. Maybe the nubs held wood that has rotten away. Maybe held stairs or floors. Not every time. Maybe for different reasons in different places. Maybe to move some times. Other times held wood. Different floor levels. Just ideas that might spark other ideas

[nancyvolker]

I saw something recently with Brien Forester about the nubs and a gentleman in Peru he speculated the the nubs in question at this sight could have been used as a clock or calendar

[SpaceTimeAnomaly]

I would guess... if you want to cast a column segment, you would put the form upgright standing. For cylinders this would have had many advantages. Therefore, the knobs wouldn't be used for pouring in or out of material.

Otherwise... nice find of another oddity. I wonder how many "real archeologists" have ever looked at these small details...

Remark: I would guess these knobs would have had an unknown very practical function well after the implementation of the columns. It would have been easy to smoothen the surface and get rid of them. Therefore, they aren't used for holding ropes (etc) while building the temple -- except, the builders have forgotten to remove them (which I don't think). Because the temple has been rebuild, the knobs may have been some how evenly distributed unseen on the inside...