There is nothing new under the sun

Peter Lu of Harvard discovered ancient Chinese use of diamond polishing for an axe - mirror-smooth to a millionth of a meter, from 4000 B.C. That is the same smoothness as a silicone wafer used in electronics today - polished with the most advanced modern tools. You think we're getting somewhere technologically? It has all been done before - in ages past.

Peter's web site. His research paper [pdf,357k]