05-08-2010, 01:51 PM
Direct evidence of Roman cranks:
Volpert, Hans-Peter: "Eine römische Kurbelmühle aus Aschheim, Lkr. München", in: Bericht der bayerischen Bodendenkmalpflege, Vol. 38 (1997), pp. 193-199. Volpert describes the find of a large mill stone powered by a true crank handle, dated to the late 2nd century AD
Rudolf Laur-Belart: "Führer durch Augusta Raurica", 5th ed., Augst 1988, pp. 51–52, 56, fig. 42, the crank is depicted here, and is dated to no later than 250 AD
This means that, while only a decade ago the absence of the crank in Roman times was widely regarded as a given fact, the direct evidence of these two excavated specimen, plus the indirect, but no less compelling evidence of crank motion in the three archaeologically attested saw mills (plus additional literary references to such mills which are now finally taken seriously), demonstrates the diversified use of the crank by the Romans beyond any doubt. :mrgreen:
More on the early history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crank_%28mechanism%29
Volpert, Hans-Peter: "Eine römische Kurbelmühle aus Aschheim, Lkr. München", in: Bericht der bayerischen Bodendenkmalpflege, Vol. 38 (1997), pp. 193-199. Volpert describes the find of a large mill stone powered by a true crank handle, dated to the late 2nd century AD
Rudolf Laur-Belart: "Führer durch Augusta Raurica", 5th ed., Augst 1988, pp. 51–52, 56, fig. 42, the crank is depicted here, and is dated to no later than 250 AD
This means that, while only a decade ago the absence of the crank in Roman times was widely regarded as a given fact, the direct evidence of these two excavated specimen, plus the indirect, but no less compelling evidence of crank motion in the three archaeologically attested saw mills (plus additional literary references to such mills which are now finally taken seriously), demonstrates the diversified use of the crank by the Romans beyond any doubt. :mrgreen:
More on the early history here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crank_%28mechanism%29
Stefan (Literary references to the discussed topics are always appreciated.)
