Jammer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MJ wrote
>
> > “But, as explained by Lobo, we have to take
> into account that lubricant
> > would have been necessary to facilitate the
> blocks travel, and without
> > sufficient clearance around the blocks this
> lubricant (which would have
> > been animal fat or thinned mortar) would have
> impeded the movement of the > blocks, possibly
> to the extent that they would jam tight
> > before they reached their intended
> destination.”
>
> Actually if you consider the elasticity of any
> known lubricant the blocks would have forced their
> way through. Lets take the argument to an extreme,
> an entire wall of animal fat blocking the passage
> impacted by a block estimated weight in tons would
> have resulted in a mess but not in a plugged
> passage. If there was nowhere ahead of the block
> the lubricant, being elastic, would have squirted
> around and behind it.

Well this is my fault as I didn't make clear I was thinking of the "mortar as lubricant" scenario. Even though animal fat and excess dirt/gravel/stone chips could act like mortar I doubt the floor would be that dirty.
I was thinking of the close tolerances(0.25 inch per side for lower measurement of passage) with the rounded front edge of the blocks pushing the mortar forward to a crack or slightly uneven joint that would allow accumulations of mortar that would work like a wedge(ramp) and force the plug/block to rise in the passage and wedge between the roof and mortar accumulation.

Regards,
Lobo-hotei
lobo

> The argument this may make the slope treacherous
> for the guider makes a lot of sense though, unless
> it could be counted on to evaporate.

Water would evaporate but wouldn't stick to ceiling well while the animal fat would stick to ceiling but not evaporate. Neither seemed well suited for them if they had to pursue the plugs down the passage.

Regards,
Lobo-hotei
lobo

Treat the earth well, It was not given to you by your parents, It was loaned to you by your children.
Native American Proverb