I have often written about the obsession some people have with the absurd idea that alien or divine intervention must have taken place in order to enable humans to build ancient constructions such as the Great Pyramids, Aztec and Inca cities, Stonehenge and many more.
The usual pro-intervention argument is based on ignorance or pseudo-science and most definitely on a lack of knowledge of the natural world.
Let's look at some of Nature's marvellous constructions that would rank the Great Pyramids effort alongside a child's Lego house, in terms of difficulty and endeavour.
I'll start with the remarkable architecture of a simple sea sponge, the Venus Flower Basket.
This incredible construction made of silica (natural glass) filaments, is a geometric and structural master-piece. Made by simple marine life-forms without the aid of a single tool, it is a work of art medieval humans could never emulate.
Incredibly strong filaments, entwined in a most regular and intricate fashion, produce a strong and beautiful structure unparalleled in nature.
A man-made glass or aluminium tube of similar proportions would have only 1/100th of the stiffness of the Flower Basket. Mother Nature demonstrates how less intelligent creatures can create structures far more impressive than any early human endeavour.
Let's move on to Nature's pattern artists, the spiders.
Some spider web strands are stronger weight for weight, than steel. No tools, no rulers and no mathematics are required by these amazing creatures to produce these works of geometric art. Just natural ability and a sac full of viscous fluid are necessary to build a habitat and hunting ground that can withstand rain, wind and scorching desert heat.
Some of these complex webs take a spider just a few hours to build.
Now onto Termite Mounds.
These relatives of the common ant use saliva and earth to produce tiny amounts of mud in their mouths which are then used to construct structures that can reach 10 metres high.
How's that for a sky-scraper built without tools?
The interior of these termite mounds are incredibly well constructed and extremely complex. Tunnels and chimneys and even underground gardens used to grow fungus for food.
All this and much much more, without divine intervention or alien guidance.
Nature rules and creates many wonders, given time and the right conditions. It does not requires any man-made imaginary deity or creator to steal it's thunder.
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