1. Convection Concepts for the
Ancients and Beyond
A quick discussion on some
important hippie bullshit
architectural concerns

2. Contents
• A statement of relevance
• A walkthrough of one possible airflow pattern
• A randomish blurb of structural and
anthropological statements.

3. Statement of relevance
Human needs don’t change much. Actually this is
not true, because we (our population size) are dependent
on infrastructure.
With each advance in infrastructure there comes
an increase in population capacity, and without
infrastructure our population would die back to some
degree depending on the infrastructure lost. So in truth,
for each advance in infrastructure, our needs include it.
This can exclude technology that has been
discovered assuming it has not been included in our
infrastructure, which is interesting to consider for this
presentation.

4. Relevance cont. / on conspiracy
Governments have always maintained a
level of secrecy, but if the secrecy were intended
to prevent holocaust, it can be assumed for
conversation that it is possible or even likely that
technology or information on technology may
be kept secret.
There need not be open corruption for
this to take place if the goal is to prevent
overpopulation without the loss of human life.

5. Statement Cont./ religion
Religion is important for this discussion, as religious
organizations are responsible for nearly all architecture in the ancient
age, and the current understanding is that this architecture is purely
for religious purposes (including cathedrals, temples, pyramids,
mosques, etc.) If it were such that buildings infrastructural value
caused dramatic increases in population, and that the loss of these
structures would equate to the dramatic loss of human life, it may
then be worthy to consider that in order to maintain these structures
even through uncontrollable military activity religious leaders would
have chosen to make them somehow sacred and separate from
infrastructure in general, which would have been controlled entirely by
the military in order to control the economy. This would potentially
protect a population from holocaust even through foreign conquest.

6. Airflow over the next few pages
It sucks, but lets start with materials.
These statements are able to be referenced.
(they are not quotes, though, and it would still
be a report)

7. • Metal conducts heat more than rock.
• Wood is complicated, and in some ways is like
rock, but in between rock and metal. (it has
both, but mostly lots of air)
• Metal will quickly conduct heat gained from
solar radiation away from its surface, rock will
take long to do so, and store heat, wood is in
the middle.

8. Please be understanding of my
struggle
• This is difficult to describe, and my
understanding is not yet clear anyway.
• The actual heating process of air is intricate.
• This means that some of my flows may not be
perfectly accurate, but mostly the broad flow
should be.

9. No light yet
Just before morning
everything is the same
temperature. All
stored heat has been
lost. The air does not
change temperature
at any surface in the
area, and so the air is
very still.

10. First Light
At first light, the surface
begins to warm. This is a
unique part of the day. The
metal tip heats less air
than the stone rooftops.
The energy moves more
rapidly towards the center
of the metal. The stone,
however, warms the air as
the heat remains at its
surface.

11. The air mass above
the warmed air is
large, and will
continuously feed
cool air through the
path of least
resistance (which has
been created by the
initial airflow at the
tip)

12. The energy transfer is
continuous and
complex. As the warmed
air rises, it cools. The
energy does not change
its position as rapidly as
the air, and “looks” like
it is dispersing, not
flowing. (Actually it
would be a mix.
Consider friction,
conduction among air
molecules, conversion of
heat to kinetic energy,
etc.)

13. The day begins
The stone is touching the
metal tip. Initially, this causes
the metal to warm the stone
that is not exposed (covered).
The stone that is warmed, and
near the gold, eventually
warms the gold, which
conducts the heat to the air
more rapidly. The air in
contact with the gold is much
cooler than the air warmed
nearby. This heats and widens
the area of falling air, creating
a slow smooth airflow and
heating pattern. (more air is
heated than without the
structure)

14. Broad Daylight
In an urban area of equal building height, the air warms as one
mass. The air at the edge of the area is not heated (probably because of
vegetation, or water), and cool air can move to replace the warmed,
lighter air. If the area is large enough, however, this exchange (slowed by
walls, buildings, etc.) cannot cause a complete flow pattern. The airs
viscosity will prevent exchange where the force of gravity is equal across
the barrier between the two air masses. The cathedral (and square) will
provide for a complete airflow pattern.

15. Mid to Late Day
The air mass over the equal height urban area will eventually become so
light compared to the cool surrounding air that a sudden and rapid exchange will
occur. This will allow for cool air to enter the entire urban area, but create
potentially very powerful winds, or even tornadoes. (this is why trailer parks are
prone to tornadoes). The air over the engineered urban area will have warmed
more slowly and more equally. Airflow will be constant throughout the day, and
gentle, providing both fresh air and a pleasant, gradual temperature change.

16. No picture
The end of the day will show the flat urban
area to be very cool, as the heat has escaped
violently and rapidly as a large air bubble. The
area with religious structures will have created
an air-mass that moves much more slowly, and
gradually disperses rather than exploding off the
surface. The air will cool more slowly due to
slower airflow, and remain pleasant throughout
the evening.

17. The stone stored energy
The stone in both cities stored solar
energy. In the flat urban area the heating
process will repeat, causing rapid air exchanges
at night. The heat in the cathedral will warm the
metal tip, and cause a light airflow throughout
the evening and night. As the air is still flowing
gradually, the entire area will cool gradually, and
there will be a steady supply of fresh air.

18. Some anthropological bunk.
Airflow is important, and a subject of
modern concern. It is a great limiting factor, and
improper airflow causes deaths in the modern
time. People die in nightclubs when they are
overcrowded, and during times of strife when
forced into tight spaces to escape violence.
Airflow is more than just oxygen, however, and
air is a carrier for disease.

19. In ancient times, and throughout all times,
there has been pollution. Automobiles are not
the only sources of pollutants. Pollutants include
human and animal waste, food waste, the dead,
fire products (ash, soot), and lacking airflow can
cause excess humidity among overpopulation,
providing an optimal environment for microbial
growth. It may even be enjoyable to stay in the
warm crowded area,,, (and breed disease).

20. Animals populated cities. Slaughtering of
animals occurred in cities. The dead would be
wherever they were and sometimes left for long.
Using water for sanitation is relatively new. Many
ancient cultures may have kept dry religiously to
keep clean. Any standing water is home to bugs and
microbes, and clear water may have been
absolutely unavailable once out of the source.
Making beer to preserve water is at least as old as
the Ancient Egyptians, and for many it was their
only drinking water.

21. Poverty is not only a modern problem. Some may
argue that cities were not filled with poverty, but this
would only be possible through military force.
Reproduction in poor populations is always at maximum
sustainable capacity. The limitations are food and shelter,
and they do not go unused unless protected by force. Any
urban development would have been surrounded by a
population of people living any way they can. These
people would likely impact the living conditions of the
city, and would require infrastructure and management
to prevent a constant overpopulation cycle. (consider the
importance of hunting where predatory populations are
reduced). Cannibalism, barbarism, and disease would be
at rates, not times.

22. How did they figure it out?
Humans living in modern air conditioned
environments do not experience the outdoor
environment like an ancient human would. They would
be highly sensitive to the microclimates created by
structures. Human skill and understanding develops
through constant trial and error, with each action leading
to more innovation and potential. To start making shade
or windows is to become a master at placement. Ancient
humans were as intelligent as humans today, and our
modern technology is the product of their innovation. If a
trader notices a growing population without disease, it is
only a matter of time before they start to notice the
micro-climatic effects of their structures.

23. How can we miss it?
Our structures have overpowered ancient
structures. The difference between air
conditioning and an urban heat island is much
more than the subtle (however important)
difference of a block of sandstone. Modern
improvements are exponentially more
impactful. The modern sewage system will
prevent more disease than a block of sandstone
ever could.

24. Why stop now?
It is a very long description and filled with
debate to discuss our understanding of energy
and population technology and economy.
I also have difficulty quickly discussing
military action, which is given credit for nearly
all civil advance and activity. I should end with
some words.

25. Some key words
• Power
• Secrecy
• Self-interest
• Organic “accidental” development vs.
planning with understanding. (it may be that
people did all of their ancient building without
ever “knowing”)

26. On Mesopotamian architecture
• ""Residential design was a direct development
from Ubaid houses.----This house ,, faced
inward toward an open courtyard which
provided a cooling effect by creating
convection currents.""
• Taken from the wiki