The problems of the obelisk revisited: Photogrammetric measurement of the speed of quarrying granite using dolerite pounders

Abstract

The ancient Egyptians' ability to extract massive blocks of granite is impressive. The speed and efficiency of various granite quarrying techniques have been a subject of interest for many experts across various fields of research, with quarrying using dolerite pounders being considered the most accepted. However, the main problem of previous studies that addressed these questions has mainly been the low degree of reliability in determining the volume of material removed. In this study, close-range photogrammetry was used for this purpose. A granite block and a dolerite pounder were used for the experiment; they were available for testing this quarrying technique in the area near the Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan, Egypt. The experiment resulted in determining a quarrying speed of 216 cm³/h with 85 hits per minute. The results achieved speak against the use of only dolerite pounders in this process and support the employment of different methods of quarrying.