256/81 (~= 3.16) as the stand-in for π.

Interesting choice, it suggests they didn't have any way to verify the accuracy of that approximation, since 22/7 is way closer, but (4/3)^4 is really cute and elegant.

The first ones to crack a nut with a stone definitely did not have the same intelligence as us. That was (likely) 2+millions of years ago, and they were not "human".

what's even crazier to think about is that there were likely several thousands of years where our ancestors were about as cognitively evolved as we are now, with language and society and culture, and simultaneously living alongside other now-extinct hominin species, like neanderthals and denisovans, who were likely similarly cognitively capable. makes me wonder if stories were still have from mythology about elves or dwarves or fae are cultural remnants of a time when we actually did live alongside not-quite-human sapient creatures

For example, I think it's the Chaco Canyon civilization that managed to perfect the math necessary to track the stars, moon, and sun, but as far as we know had no system of writing. Which means they were just memorizing that shit.

there not as book smart as we are but a lot def more street smart than most of us today. different generation different kind of knowledge but same hardware

They are like the wheel, but you put your penis in them.