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john_strinlaiyesterday at 6:21 PM3 repliesview on HN

one piece of "evidence" some conspiracy believers cite to prove aliens is, roughly: a bunch of places around the world independently all built similar pyramid-like structures (egypt, machu picchu, etc.). so it must be aliens.

the fact that the easiest way to pile up a bunch of big rocks without it crumbling down is to have a wide base and a narrow top is seemingly forgotten.


Replies

slgyesterday at 6:39 PM

>without it crumbling down

Which is an underappreciated part. They didn't only build pyramids, it's just pyramids had a much higher chance of actually surviving the millennia so it looks like early human civilizations were weirdly obsessed with pyramids. You never hear any theories about how aliens built the Colossus of Rhodes, but the pyramids get it because they're still around.

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qupyesterday at 6:34 PM

It strikes me that it also might be the best way to build a tall structure, for the ancients. It takes modern materials to build skinny and tall.