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> Then, workers would pound the obelisk out of the quarry using dolerite balls, working shoulder to shoulder and creating dust in the process. This method of qu
by pavel_lishin 3y ago
> Then, workers would pound the obelisk out of the quarry using dolerite balls, working shoulder to shoulder and creating dust in the process. This method of quarrying left no chisel marks on the unfinished obelisk, and it is a marvel to look at.
I am having a hard time visualizing this; the lack of chisel marks is presumably because the tools had no sharp pointy ends, but I still don't really understand how they were able to create a smooth, sharp surface with it, especially at the angles.
(I can, however, pretty clearly picture what sort of shape the workers' lungs were in after doing this for awhile.)
- DFHippie 3y agoThe second link provided by jmyeet gives more details. Apparently they made a roughly flat surface by splitting the stone by cutting a line of holes into which they fit dried wooden wedges. Then they soaked the wedges in water, causing them to swell, opening a crack along the line. Then they bashed this surface flatter by pounding dolerite balls on any imperfections. You can see traces of this process on the surfaces of the abandoned obelisk lying in Aswan.