Inductive Metrology: Or, The Recovery of Ancient Measures from the MonumentsAmong the leading Egyptologists of his day, Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853-1942) excavated over fifty sites and trained a generation of archaeologists. As a young man, he demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics and used this skill to measure monuments across the south of England, including Stonehenge. Published in 1877, this work was based in part on these early surveys and provides great insight into the linear measurements used by ancient civilisations. Notably, Petrie establishes that accurate measurement was possible in societies without writing systems. His innovative approach to metrology draws comparisons between units of measurement used by peoples separated by great spans of time and distance, ranging from medieval Ireland to ancient Egypt. Petrie went on to write prolifically throughout his long career, and a great many of his other publications are also reissued in this series. |
Contents
PREFACE | 1 |
145 Unit of 2 92 Jutland palm | 4 |
7 Multiples and fractions that are likely to be found in | 7 |
13 Probability of fallacies and the means of checking them | 13 |
19 Probabilities of multiples of the probable error | 19 |
25 Apparent accuracy in measurements often fallacious | 26 |
45 Identity of these with units found inductively | 45 |
36 | 51 |
87 | 87 |
72 | 89 |
94 Italian unit of 23 05 | 94 |
53 | 97 |
73 | 104 |
120 Unit of 4 89 | 105 |
RUDE STONE REMAINS AMERICA INDIA | 112 |
75 | 118 |
88 | 53 |
60 Table of Persian results | 60 |
63 | 74 |
170 Forms and derivatives of the 25 15 unit or Sacred | 136 |
885 | 142 |
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Common terms and phrases
01 The mean 28 digits accuracy accurate Africa agree Altar Antiphellos apparently ascertaining Asia Minor Assyrian Athens church civilisation connected countries cromlech cross lines cubit rods deduced derived dimensions divided decimally division Dorset duodecimally Egyptian cubit Egyptian digits England evidence examples farther feet Firouzabad give given Greece Greek foot group of digits identical inches inductive examination instances Istakhr Italy Jeezeh Karnak Knidos length line ending Lycian Lycian tomb Maiden Newton marked mean unit mean value medieval method metrology monuments multiples Nimroud number of observations number of units obtained old digits Olympic cubit Olympic foot Oppert orguia original Parthenon Pelasgic perhaps Persepolis Persia probable error Pyramid Pythic foot Quiepo ratios remains Roman foot Romano-British Roustam sarcophagus Sardinia seems simple numbers spaces square standard stone suklu rabtu Syria tablet temple Texier's theatre Thessalia Thessalonike tiples unit occurs unit of measure units found usual variations weighted