QWau el kebir

Limestone and sandstone could be quarried in open quarries. Stone of good quality was often found only inside a mountain, and therefore huge galleries were cut. The opening of a new quarry was an important event, which was celebrated, sometimes with an eternal record in hieroglyphic inscription. The first step was to remove bad stone, dust sand and rubble.

hard stone quarries

Only granite at Aswan was quarried on the same scale as limestone and sandstone throughout Egyptian history.

source: ucl.ac.uk

 

 

 

 Qau el-Kebir; Petrie 1930: pl. XIX.2,3)