The Ancient Chimu Telephone,The Chimu civilization dominated the northern coast of Peru from the 900
The Ancient Chimu Telephone,The Chimu civilization dominated the northern coast of Peru from the 900’s AD up until the Incan conquest in 1470. A highly advanced civilization, the Chimu had a rich culture and were experts in the fields of architecture, metallurgy, and agriculture. One of the most interesting discoveries of the Chimu culture is what can only be described as an ancient telephone. When I was a youngling, one popular thing to do was to created a telephone using two tin cans connected by a long piece of string. Draw the string taught, and one could talk into the can while a friend could hear it from a considerable distance away. The Chimu telephone works in the same fashion. The two hearing pieces are constructed from a dried out and lacquered piece of gourd covered with stretched hide membranes. The two ear pieces are connected by a 75 foot long piece of cotton twine.The Chimu telephone is approximately 1,200 to 1,400 years old. Its exact purpose is unknown. It could have been used to convey messages between buildings, or between floors and rooms of buildings. One possible hypothesis was that it was used by commoners to communicate with a ruler or religious figure, someone who was too important or holy for face to face communication. Currently the Chimu telephone is in the possession of the Smithsonian. -- source link
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