How do the archaeological experts exlain to me (construction engineer) ....

[IsamardKB]

How on earth could relatively primative societies (circa 3000 bc) lift and transport stone monoliths in excess of 1000 tons across the land and then lift them into place with startling precision.

We are led to believe that the whhel wasn't invented ...etc etc ...

[old-wos-is-name]

I think stonehenge was a landing bay for a flying saucer.
as for fulcrums, I pulled a car out out of a ravine using only a rope and a large length of wood, just by tying one end of the rope around a tree. the other round the back of the car, and twisting the rope with the wood. the rope soon shortened, and up she came. I felt like indiana jones.

[Mosaic]

As one of AB's resident archaeological experts (cool look at Bednobs)....
If you want to see wonderment in action take a look at Gobekli Tepe in southern Turkey - man, does that blow the socks off stonehenge.
It seems to be the case that people in distance times even before the discovery of metal-founding were occasionally determined to create huge structures- we know about the stone and earth ones, wooden ones tend not to survive.
One of the overriding differences between then and now might well be that entire communities devoted themselves absolutely to achieving this, without their time and effort being measured or rewarded by a money-based economy. It was simply important beyond our concepts to these people to do this thing, and they must have had the will to return season after season, possibly over generations, to do it.
As an engineer, you'll know a lot can be lifted with an A-frame and rope. The people of Gobekli Tepe (and stonehenge for that matter) were more than competent carpenters, and made sturdy wood-framed homes that lasted years. They will have discovered the A-frame and put it to use.
The earliest known wheel from Europe dates to about 4500 BC (I think, from memory) - and as this is a well-produced item it's fair to assume the idea is older than this one discovery. But using wheels to transport heavy stone would never be on - think of the strength needed in the axle, and the absence of decent surfaces to pull along - and you'll see why complex arrangements of rafting, greasing and rolling were used to move heavy stones a long way.
In addition, it's likely that earth ramps were also used to raise parts of monuments, then cleared away.

[beso]

heathfield //By the way, there's a misconception that the wheel was unknown to the ancient peoples of South America. It wasn't. Wheeled childrens toys are commonly found on Aztec sites. It's thought by some that in South America the complete absence of any large draught animals was the reason that the wheel was never developed for transport purposes. //

One does not need a draught animal to make use of wheel. Take it from someone who uses the humble wheelbarrow a lot, it is a spectacular advantage of dragging a load.

If they had toys wheels perhaps the importance of the wheel was never fully appreaciated beyond the novelty.

If I remember correctly the possibility of using steam to do work was known in ancient Greece. Maybe even a simple steam turbine. Yet they never developed the concept beyond novelty.

[heathfield]

I did say that it was ''thought by some'' Beso - but that doesn't include me! I agree with you about the wheelbarrow, too. The South Americans had dogs, but never put them to use on dog-drawn carts as did the folk in Belgium!