Athens- Baffling scientists for decades, the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient astronomical computer, now has some more evidence as to just how old it is.
Recent radiocarbon dating done on this device shows that it is from 150-100 BCE. Radiocarbon dating is based on the principal that radioactive carbon-dioxide found in minerals and rocks decays at a predictable rate. Radiocarbon is constantly being created in the atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with atmospheric nitrogen. When rocks and minerals are taken out of their environment, the radioactive carbon-dioxide starts to decay. By measuring this decay, scientists were able to pinpoint the date of creation of the Antikythera Mechanism to 150-100 BCE. Faking something like this is borderline …show more content…
“A device this precise, shouldn't exist, it just shouldn't!” exclaims Alison Davidson, a well-known non believer of the Antikythera Mechanism. In the past scientists would dispel any claims that the device was fake by citing the inscriptions and degradation were evidence of its age, even though this wasn’t definite proof. “They claim that the evidence at hand is enough to prove that it’s real” adds Alison “Anyone willing to fake something like this, would most definitely go to the trouble to make it believable.” Now radiocarbon dating confirms scientists theories and shows that this device really is as it …show more content…
We also don’t know how it got to where it was found or if it had any other functions. With all the questions, it is nice to have definite and undeniable proof of its age. “A question often asked, is whether this device could be fake” explains James Donald, the head of the Antikythera Research Project, “it’s nice to have more solid proof to help end people's doubts.”
The Antikythera Mechanism is built so well that there should be precursors. In ancient times, bronze was a highly valuable and recyclable material suggesting that the first few revisions were melted to make this one. There has also been some writings to suggest that the Antikythera Mechanism had others like it that didn’t survive, or have been found yet.
Even though it’s abilities are minuscule today, it isn’t just worthless rust. “This device is just extraordinary, the only thing of its kind,” says Mike Edmunds of Cardiff University in the UK, a scientist who worked on the device. “The design is beautiful, the astronomy is exactly right…In terms of historical and scarcity value, I have to regard this mechanism as being more valuable than the Mona Lisa.” Many like him agree, this device really is one of a
Recent radiocarbon dating done on this device shows that it is from 150-100 BCE. Radiocarbon dating is based on the principal that radioactive carbon-dioxide found in minerals and rocks decays at a predictable rate. Radiocarbon is constantly being created in the atmosphere when cosmic rays interact with atmospheric nitrogen. When rocks and minerals are taken out of their environment, the radioactive carbon-dioxide starts to decay. By measuring this decay, scientists were able to pinpoint the date of creation of the Antikythera Mechanism to 150-100 BCE. Faking something like this is borderline …show more content…
“A device this precise, shouldn't exist, it just shouldn't!” exclaims Alison Davidson, a well-known non believer of the Antikythera Mechanism. In the past scientists would dispel any claims that the device was fake by citing the inscriptions and degradation were evidence of its age, even though this wasn’t definite proof. “They claim that the evidence at hand is enough to prove that it’s real” adds Alison “Anyone willing to fake something like this, would most definitely go to the trouble to make it believable.” Now radiocarbon dating confirms scientists theories and shows that this device really is as it …show more content…
We also don’t know how it got to where it was found or if it had any other functions. With all the questions, it is nice to have definite and undeniable proof of its age. “A question often asked, is whether this device could be fake” explains James Donald, the head of the Antikythera Research Project, “it’s nice to have more solid proof to help end people's doubts.”
The Antikythera Mechanism is built so well that there should be precursors. In ancient times, bronze was a highly valuable and recyclable material suggesting that the first few revisions were melted to make this one. There has also been some writings to suggest that the Antikythera Mechanism had others like it that didn’t survive, or have been found yet.
Even though it’s abilities are minuscule today, it isn’t just worthless rust. “This device is just extraordinary, the only thing of its kind,” says Mike Edmunds of Cardiff University in the UK, a scientist who worked on the device. “The design is beautiful, the astronomy is exactly right…In terms of historical and scarcity value, I have to regard this mechanism as being more valuable than the Mona Lisa.” Many like him agree, this device really is one of a