The Antikythera mechanism has been described as the world’s first analogue computer since it was found in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece in 1901, but until now, we have not known precisely how it was configured inside.
The Anticythera mechanism – a corroded chalcographical artefact discovered at a Roman shipwreck in 1901, has been called the world’s first analogue machine since the day it was discovered. However, its internal kinematics remained enigmatic for the past 2000 years. One of the first major pieces of research with the new method was done by University of Glasgow Scientists using Experimental Archaeology combined with findings from Chris Budiselic’s (Clickspring) experimentally built Antica Tyrrhenia mechanisms.
Data were included in the full analysis using Bayesian statistics (first developed to find gravitational waves). The final result of this cross-disciplinary research confirmed that this device was constructed and calibrated to track the Lunar Calendar and that it can provide us with a glimpse of just how far ahead of their time were Ancient Greek craftsmen and how advanced they too were at the same point in history compared to today’s modern digital computers.
Chris Budiselic helped scientists to solve the mystery of the world’s oldest computer
According to the University of Glasgow, the YouTuber Chris Budiselic, the creator behind the YouTube channel ‘Clickspring’, could be credited with starting a breakthrough that stems from his years of documenting his attempts to create a true-to-history replica of the Antikythera mechanism. This process allowed him to provide researchers Graham Woan and Joseph Bayley with important physical data that aided their use of modern statistical models to analyse the ancient pieces of the mechanism.
His applied experimental archaeology provided researchers with baseline data that traditional observational methods have been unable to yield for over 100 years.
How scientists mapped a 2,000-year-old ring
The Glasgow researchers determined that the calendar ring of the mechanism had either 354 or 355 holes using Bayesian analysis, as written in The Horological Journal. This method is a statistical analytical method commonly used to analyse gravitational wave signals in space by removing background noise.
Their use of this method with the data supplied by the Clickspring replica revealed that the calendar was built to follow the Greek lunar calendar, with 354 days (followed by one intercalary day).
It was not, therefore, a representation of the solar 365-day calendar.
Why 2,000-year-old computing was ahead of its time
According to this research, the holes in the ring were arranged with a radius of about 77.1 milimeters with a radial variation of only 0.028 millimetres, which indicates that the ancient Greeks were likely able to apply very sophisticated dividing machinery or geometric techniques.
These results prove that technological advancements were much more developed than once believed, and mechanical computing was significantly more advanced than previously thought 2,000 years ago.
How ancient Greeks mechanically encode in bronze with this device
Originally discovered in 1901 off the coast of the island of Antikythera in Greece, this device was made approximately 60-70 BC, and is now known to be the earliest remaining example of analogue computing in the world. The Antikythera Mechanism functioned as a celestial calculator, mechanically encoding solar eclipses and the epicyclic motion of the five known planets through meticulously calibrated gear tooth geometry.
