[Aztlan] Maya E groups

[David Hixson]

The proposition that the Olmec had a magnetic compass
is based upon a single stone with a line scratched in
it.

This particular stone was made of magnetically charged
iron (and later termed a "lodestone compass"). 
Therefore if you put it on a cork or other floating
object it might eventually stray to the magnetic polar
positions.  It's an interesting proposition, but most
don't give much creedence to the idea that this single
iron-rich stone with a scratch in it proves that
Mesoamericans had any widely used knowledge of
magnetic compasses.

-Dave

--- David and Fiona Gray <davefiona at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Some one mentioned that the accuracy of the
> alignment of the E groups decreased over time. I see
> the possible reason for this as being that magnetic
> north shifts over time . I have heard that the
> Olmecs had magnetic compasses.Is it possible that 
> they may  have established the initial alignments of
> the  E groups that others copied this alignment.That
> the further in time the site is removed from the 
> time  of the initial alignment  the less accurate
> that alignment would  be.  What do others think?.  
> 
> 
> 
>      
>
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