History Main / SufficientlyAdvancedBambooTechnology

** Owing to their whole "space ninja" M.O., the Tenno themselves take heavy inspiration from japanese and chinese culture in their own architecture and culture. But are among the most technologically advanced of all the factions, utilising [[LostTechnology replicated technology from the preceeding Orokin Empire]] if not having direct access to the [[SuperPrototype original blueprints with their "Prime" variants]]. The only faction to compete are the [[MegaCorp Corpus]], who have started to employ Sentient technology specifically as a countermeasure against the Tenno.

Compare: InsufficientlyAdvancedAlien; LowCultureHighTech; AliensNeverInventedTheWheel; CrystalSpiresAndTogas; HigherTechSpecies.

* The ruins of gem ancient sites in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', despite being built by a space-faring race, look like ancient human ruins albeit with some [[{{Bizarrchitecture}} stranger elements]]. The ubiquitous [[PortalNetwork warp pads]] look like nondescript stone daises. Even the {{Flying Saucer}}s they flew in on seem to be made of stone and have the interior of a TempleOfDoom. By contrast, modern Homeworld technology is obviously advanced and quite alien-looking.

** In "Bubba's Big Brainstorm," the ancient "Thinkas" are pure {{Mayintec}} in their styling, yet use computerized and robotic defenses reminiscent of PointAndClick adventure game puzzles.

* Justified and explained in DETAIL in ''Literature/DivineBloodNovels''. Each one of the races has the power to enchant magical artifacts, and magic is just a type of technology. And each race, happens to have a material that is easiest to enchance. Dwarves can use bronze, so all their magical artifacts are made of bronze. Gods can enhance trees, so all their technology is tree-oriented. Humans can enchance crystals, so human artifacts are crystal oriented. This leads to situations like a God having a wooden shield that works as a force field.

** "The Cage" (Pilot) and ''The Menagerie'' ([=S1E15/16=]): The [[DyingRace Talosians]] use this sort of technology, including an elevator hidden in a rockface which leads to an advanced underground layer, and a viewscreen embedded in rock (probably an attempt to convey a flatscreen-like device) shows up in the episode as well. However, though their technology is impressive, the Talosians, who are all weakened survivors of an ancient nuclear war, have forgotten how to maintain it and now rely primarily on their psionic powers for survival.

** Played straight with ancient technology on Kobol in both the old series (technology inside pyramids that interacted with Adama's legacy disco medallion) and the new one (a planetarium show on Kobol projected inside the Tomb of Athena, a cave with an entrance disguised like a rockface).

** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars Pyramids of Mars]]", Osiran technology looks like ancient Egyptian parapenalia, but includes devices like robots and teleporters that work between Earth and Mars.

* The Green and White factions of New Phyrexia in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering''. While both old Phyrexia and the new Blue, Black and Red factions make use of obvious metal, the Green faction as a whole is exceptionally organic (big surprise), and the White faction makes use primarily of a porcelain like metal, which makes them look more as if covered by and making use of things made of bone. Of course, the distinction between metals and natural materials is not very obvious to a civilisation composed entirely of BodyHorror along those lines.

** The Necrons, meanwhile, use architecture of black stone and use [[SicklyGreenGlow glowing green]] crystals, hypothetically even in technical buildings that stave off metaphysical influences. Their vehicles look like egyptian boats, except that they hover, and numerous heavy-and-upwards vehicles look like pyramids. They also use such wonders as Resurrection Orbs (a glowing crystal sphere that enhances the repair protocols of the Necron Warriors), Sempiternal Weave (a highly advanced forcefield that looks like a scale-mail cloak) and various weaponised staves.

** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars Pyramids of Mars]]", Osirin technology looks like ancient Egyptian parapenalia, but includes devices like robots and teleporters that work between Earth and Mars.

* ''Creator/MarvelComics'': The country of Wakanda has advanced technology, some of which outpaces the rest of the world, but publicly wielded tools are intentionally designed to match the traditional African style of Wakandian ancestors.

* The titular object in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull''.

** Most Asgardian technology in the ''looks'' like Viking-era equipment despite being Sufficiently Advanced.
** Wankandan technology as a whole in ''Film/BlackPanther2018''. For instance, the Border Tribe's battle gear involve a sickle and a cloth cloak; presumably Vibranium sickle, and those cloth cloaks can project Deflector Shields.

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]
* Many of the Atlantean technology in Disney's ''Disney/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', such as [[IfItSwimsItFlies the fish-shaped aircraft]] and the [[HumongousMecha Stone Giants]], are all based on and powered by crystals.

* Most Asgardian technology in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse ''looks'' like Viking-era equipment despite being Sufficiently Advanced.

[[folder:Newspaper Comics]]
* One of the many images in ''ComicStrip/TheFarSide'' featuring cave men showed two of them inventing a "Time Log" which could also fly, and which they used to travel to the modern day to gawk at the future.
* ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''' treasured cardboard box could be used (depending on its orientation) to transmogrify any creature into any other, [[CloningBlues duplicate]] a living thing, or even travel in time. Of course, these advances ''may'' have been all in Calvin's imagination...
[[/folder]]

[[folder:RealLife]]

* A lot of Chozo tech in the ''{{Metroid}}'' series looks like this. Chozo made a point of building their technology in harmony with nature, rather than against it. A lot of it appears to be stone or simple metalwork... and then the statues come to life and begin shooting high powered laser blasts and you realize just how advanced the Chozo were.

* ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales'': The booby trapped temple in "Too Much of A Gold Thing". By opening all the doors to all three treasure vaults at once, Scrooge [=McDuck=] sets off a device that, in quick succession: causes the floor to collapse into a lake a molten gold, causes the temple to sink in the lake of molten gold, causes the entire valley to be engulfed in a lake of molten gold, and causes said lake of molten gold to explode in a volcanic eruption.
** In "Bubba's Big Brainstorm," the ancient "Thinkas" are pure {{Mayaintec}} in their styling, yet use computerized and robotic defenses reminiscent of PointAndClick adventure game puzzles.

** The Doctor's iconic TARDIS, an intelligent time-traveling spaceship that is BiggerOnTheInside, always looks like a blue police box since it's chameleon circuit was damaged.

AncientAstronauts and {{Precursors}} have the interesting habit of building their technology to look like primitive artifacts. This is distinguished from classic BambooTechnology in function but not in form. In this case, apparently primitive constructs are actually technologically advanced devices. A shield generator, ancient godlike computer, or powerful superweapon may resemble a monument, or idol, a small handheld artifact. Rock faces will hide glowing energy conduits. Crystals can do anything from teleporting of people and objects to enhancing latent psychic powers. Stone tablets with primitive carvings contain hidden machinery, or {{Nanotechnology}}, or some other AppliedPhlebotinum. Ancient control centers and consoles will resemble temples and altars. In many cases, the technology is designed to mimic the appearance of {{Magitek}}, but is actually AppliedPhlebotinum. Usually the aliens in this first variation are Precursors, Ancient Astronauts, or both, and inhabit [[TechnologyLevels the higher end]] of the [[AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit Kardashev Scale]], but there are exceptions. Though being [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien "Sufficiently Advanced"]] is usually a characteristic of the makers of such technology, it's not required: HigherTechSpecies are known to adopt this style as well. Civilizations at the CrystalSpiresAndTogas level are very likely to use this kind of technology, often subtly blending it in with their surroundings or by making it appear decorative. The ArtifactOfDoom or the MacGuffin in a Sci-Fi setting, if of alien or other fantastic origin, is usually an example of this technology. Many a PowerCrystal and MineralMacGuffin are examples as well. The more ancient LostTechnology is, the more likely it will be an example of this trope.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS13E3PyramidsOfMars Pyramids of Mars]]", Osirin technology looks like ancient Egyptian parapenalia, but includes devices like robots and teleporters that work between Earth and Mars.

** The Doctor's iconic TARDIS -- an intelligent time-traveling spaceship that is BiggerOnTheInside --
always looks like a blue police box since it's chameleon circuit was damaged.

AncientAstronauts and {{Precursors}} have the interesting habit of building their technology to look like primitive artifacts. This is distinguished from classic BambooTechnology in function but not in form. In this case, apparently primitive constructs are actually technologically advanced devices. A shield generator, ancient godlike computer, or powerful superweapon may resemble a monument, or idol, a small handheld artifact. Rock faces will hide glowing energy conduits. Crystals can do anything from teleporting of people and objects to enhancing latent psychic powers. Stone tablets with primitive carvings contain hidden machinery, or {{Nanotechnology}}, or some other AppliedPhlebotinum. Ancient control centers and consoles will resemble temples and altars. In many cases, the technology is designed to mimic the appearance of {{Magitek}}, but is actually Applied Phlebotinum. Usually the aliens in this first variation are Precursors, Ancient Astronauts, or both, and inhabit [[TechnologyLevels the higher end]] of the [[AbusingTheKardashevScaleForFunAndProfit Kardashev Scale]], but there are exceptions. Though being [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien "Sufficiently Advanced"]] is usually a characteristic of the makers of such technology, it's not required: Higher-Tech Species are known to adopt this style as well. Civilizations at the Crystal Spires and Togas level are very likely to use this kind of technology, often subtly blending it in with their surroundings or by making it appear decorative. The ArtifactOfDoom or the MacGuffin in a Sci-Fi setting, if of alien or other fantastic origin, is usually an example of this technology. Many a PowerCrystal and MineralMacGuffin are examples as well. The more ancient LostTechnology is, the more likely it will be an example of this trope.

* The [[{{Precursors}} Xel'Naga]] from ''{{Starcraft}}'' appear to have this. The few Xel'Naga artifacts encountered in the games are crystals and stone temples.

* In ''[[OrionsArm Orion's Arm]]'':