Hiker finds strange item at melting glacier in Switzerland — and it stumps officials...

[ARC]

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article295069784.html#rtt-archaeo-recirc2

 

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[tamrock]

I'm thinking it may have been someone's late 19th experiment to guide in the air down the slope of a glacier in a homebuilt glider. This fella Otto Lilienthal the gluider man from Germany was going viral during those times. Sadly Otto broke his neck and died attempting to prove people can actually fly.

 

[beepbleep]

I'm seeing a cart pulled by some type of animal with the main beams snapped. How far is this from North Korea?

 

[Gene Mean]

Do you think those are wheels that are meant to turn or skids?

 

[AZ Gold Hunter]

Cool story. I like your theory tamrock about a glider. I would be curious on the carbon dating results. Granted those can be misleading. With stuff like this I try and break it down from what do we know for certain. The location is the biggest clue. As for the wheels it looks like they are static and do not have turning capabilities. Which does point towards a cart or maybe land gear.

Please keep us up to date if they find more info.

 

[robertk]

I would be curious on the carbon dating results.

I thought they said it was 20th century -- as in, the 1900's. Is carbon dating needed for something that recent?

 

[AZ Gold Hunter]

I thought they said it was 20th century -- as in, the 1900's. Is carbon dating needed for something that recent?

I missed that point. Still a cool story

 

[tamrock]

I missed that point. Still a cool story

I guess I did also.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

Need better resolution photos to make a decent guess. Also a photo of the surrounding terrain

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

The wheels are fixed to the axle which rotates in the inboard 'bearings' -- take a close look. Unless it can be dated to an old date that matters it is a nothing burger.

 

[releventchair]

Rather out of context?

I see what looks like an antler by front wheel.

 

[Jose The Goon]

My first thought when I hear "Bamboo" is of Asia.
When seeing the 2 large wheels & other parts I am thinking "Rickshaw". What a Rickshaw is doing in a glacier in Switzerland leaves me clueless.
On second thought maybe it was left there by a 1900s Chinese expedition of some wealthy or royal Chinaman.
I pity the poor lackeys that had to cart around some wealthy explorer in those cold conditions. Frostbite would have had a field day !

 

[Chilli]

Im struggling to understand why its a mystery!

 

[ConceptualizedNetherlandr]

Rather out of context?

I see what looks like an antler by front wheel.

That followed my post. Who was it aimed at? If me, how 'out of context?' Either way, I'd say what looks to be an antler is in the front structure, not a wheel. What is up with the pins?

 

[releventchair]

That followed my post. Who was it aimed at? If me, how 'out of context?' Either way, I'd say what looks to be an antler is in the front structure, not a wheel. What is up with the pins?

Context as in location of the device.
I first checked for large body of water. South big water is distant.
(Thinking rickshaw off a ship.)

 

[Red-Coat]

The Splügen Pass, where this was found, connects the Swiss Hinterrhein valley with the Valle San Giacomo in Italy and is part of the Graubunden ‘Untere Strasse’ transit route. There has been a mule track through the pass alongside the Schwarzhorag Glacier since at least Roman times which was also used by shepherds. Until a road was constructed between 1818-1823, this was the only safe way to traverse the pass (and, even then, not in winter). It’s both very exposed and dangerous terrain.

There are records of considerable amounts of customs revenue generated by mule-train traders using the pass as far back as 1396. In 1798 it was described as “the largest merchant trading route between Milan [in Italy] and Germany, mainly using horses and mules.” Between 1818 and 1823 the trail was upgraded to enable passage of freight wagons and post coaches, reaching its peak of use in the 1850s. Today, there’s a road following much of this early route but since WWII it has closed during the winter months and at other times of bad weather.

The nearest locality where bamboo naturally grows is in Uzbekistan, over 5,000 km away and then India, even further.