Danny Jones Podcast #336: NEW Egyptian Vase Scans Prove the Human Timeline is Wrong

Guests: Karoly Poka & Adam Young
Date: September 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Danny Jones dives deep into the scanning and analysis of ancient Egyptian vases with guests Karoly Poka, an electrical engineer and researcher, and Adam Young, a mathematician and finance professional. Their pioneering work applies state-of-the-art metrology (the science of measurement) and 3D scanning to Egyptian stone vases, revealing a level of precision in these ancient artifacts that—according to the hosts—upends conventional timelines and understandings of human technological development. The conversation explores methodology, the implications for ancient history, ongoing skepticism, and the future of archaeological science.

Guest Introductions & Origins of the Project

• Karoly Poka: Electrical engineer from Hungary, inspired by Ben van Kerkwyk’s UnchartedX channel. He began by contacting European museums to scan actual Egyptian artifacts, later joining forces with Adam on an exploratory trip to Egypt.

  "I figured out that probably no one had investigated real museum pieces before." (00:38, Karoly Poka)

• Adam Young: Mathematician with a background in statistical mathematics and finance. His interest began in 2017, first analyzing privately-owned vases and later pushing into institutional collections with a scientific approach.

  "It had never been an established procedure for actually applying metrology analysis to ancient artifacts…" (02:34, Adam Young)

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. What Are These Ancient Vases?

• "OG Vase": Analyzed specimen, traditionally dated to 2900 BC, and acquired from a London antiquities dealer.
• Many similar vases, spanning a 2,000-year range, were exported from Egypt en masse.
• Scans show impossible levels of regularity/circularity for tools believed available then.

Notable Quote:

“The median root mean square distance of this vase [from a perfect circle]: 16 microns. It's like six or seven 10,000ths of an inch.” (06:22, Karoly Poka)

2. Scanning Methodology

• Structured Light Scans & CT Scans: Slices the vase into thousands of horizontal layers (each 20 microns thick) and fits circles to each, measuring deviation.
• Portable 3D Scanners: Devices accurate to 20 microns, essential for use in museum spaces.
• Both interior and exterior surfaces are scanned; in many cases, interiors are more perfect than exteriors ("The interior is more perfect...about 3,000ths [of an inch] and the exterior is 4,000ths." - 34:37).

3. Statistical Analysis and Findings

• Across 100+ scanned vases, the degree of circularity and geometric precision is often unmatched—even by modern standards or current granite workers:
  • "No evidence that anyone has recreated... in modern times" (33:25, Adam Young)
  • Even CNC machines and multi-generational stone vase manufacturers in China could not match the precision.
• Comparisons with pottery: even the finest pottery or alabaster is considerably less circular and symmetrical.

"We found the median root mean square distance of this vase, 16 microns...the minimum deviation is.0004, like 4, 10,000ths." (06:12–07:58, Karoly Poka)

4. Pushback & Alternative Explanations

• Skepticism Online: Many pushbacks are online or career-motivated within academia.
• Provenance Concerns: Skeptics question object origins and whether forgeries are possible.
• Replication Attempts: The Russian "Scientists Against Myth" group spent two years replicating a vase, but scans show their attempt falls dramatically short in precision.
• Conventional explanations ("diorite pounders" or "fire-setting") are considered by the guests as inadequate for the observed results.
• No solid evidence for lathes, metal tools, or advanced machinery in the supposed culture/timeframe, despite the high precision necessary.

Notable Segment:

"They used a rotating table on ball bearings… that's a fixed spindle... going to impart roundness, but they used a modern metal bearing, which dynastics or pre-dynastics didn't have." (54:28–55:15)

5. Controversy in Archaeological Dating

• Form-Based Dating: Assigning object age based on shape/look is problematic; often results in contradictory attributions across millennia.
• Inheritance Hypothesis: Many such vases could be cultural heirlooms, repurposed by later Egyptians (Nakata culture, pre- and early dynastic periods).
• Some vases have earlier pharaohs’ names scratched in, indicating multiple periods of use.

6. Comparison with Modern Manufacturing

• Modern Marble Cylinder (Toothbrush Holder): 50 microns of deviation—still outdone by ancient vases, which are in harder granite or diorite.
• Modern CNC granite manufacturers failed to meet specifications.
• Alabaster vase precision sometimes approaches granite, but is much easier to carve.

7. Implications and Deeper Mysteries

• The existence of precision artifacts in ancient Egypt challenges conventional timelines and raises questions about lost technologies/knowledge.
• The sophistication appears in much more than vases (sarcophagi, core samples, massive boxes at Lahoon, etc.).
• Scan data and metrology, when made rigorous and public, could force reevaluation of much of Egyptian chronology and capabilities.

Notable Quote:

“It's an insult to anyone's intelligence to show them these scans...and say they were done with pounding stones and copper tools.” (45:36, Danny Jones)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Debunking the Debunkers:

  “If I go find a flying saucer in the desert, I don't need to find two flying saucers to figure out that there’s some advanced civilization that made this thing. Right. I only need one.” (10:39, Danny Jones)

• On Reception by Museums:

  “They had never seen such high tech in a museum.” (16:59, Karoly Poka)

• The Chris Dunn Connection:

  “He was explaining to the museum staff the implications. And they were open-minded.” (24:06, Karoly Poka)

• On Flatness Measurements:

  “Petri measured and published ... 4,000ths of an inch deviation across about one and a quarter meters — which is 20 times flatter than a normal household countertop.” (63:14, Adam Young)

• On Theories for "Why" Such Perfection:

  “Or they had the tools which made it easy. If they had already those tools ... they don’t have to think about ... how should we do this?” (64:20, Karoly Poka)

• Invitation to Participate:

  “We're launching ... a $25,000 prize to the stone carver ... able to actually replicate one of these vessels close to what we've measured, with only tools authentic to the era.” (114:06, Adam Young)

Important Timestamps

• Guest Intros & Backgrounds: 00:07–03:12
• OG Vase Description & Dating Issues: 03:12–08:51
• Scanning Methodology & Key Results: 04:47–08:53, 14:43–19:17
• Debunking & Replication Attempts: 10:17–12:23, 51:50–55:47
• Granite Box in Pyramid: 62:22–68:19
• Discussion of Archeological Skepticism & Pushback: 30:58–33:36, 76:08–79:08
• Modern Replication and Challenges: 32:01–35:04, 54:28–55:15
• Artifact Foundation Challenge & Next Steps: 114:06–117:44
• Sahara & Underexplored Regions: 108:16–109:56
• Antikythera Device & "Lost" Technologies: 111:00–113:43

Flow and Tone

The discussion is collegial, intensely curious, and occasionally frustrated by mainstream resistance. The hosts maintain a science-first stance, frequently emphasizing transparency, methodological rigor, and the necessity of data-driven dialogue with skeptics. They avoid wild speculation, save for fun “what if” scenarios.

Conclusion & Next Steps

• Artifact Foundation (artifactfoundation.org) and Karoly’s YouTube/Podcast are leading ongoing research and now sponsor a public challenge to attempt authentic reproduction of these artifacts.
• The ultimate goal: use comprehensive 3D metrology and open data to either confirm or upend the accepted human historical timeline.
• The guests encourage more scientific openness, data sharing, and experimental archaeology.

For More Information

• Artifact Foundation: artifactfoundation.org
• Karoly Poka (YouTube): Search “Karoly Poka” or “Ancient Technology Podcast”
• Contact/Challenge Details: See website for $25k precision vase replication challenge.
• Danny Jones Podcast: Linked below the episode.

This summary covers core arguments, controversies, the human drama behind the research, and the technical breakthroughs reshaping our understanding of ancient Egypt.