Some Remarks on Stone Quarrying in the Egyptian Middle Kingdom (2060-1786 B.C.)

Abstract

stone in architecture of the Dynasty (3000-2850 B.C.). Sizeable blocks of granite occur first in the Second Dynasty,2 although only for free-standing stelae, but from the Fourth Dynasty (2723-2563 B.C.) onward, granite was used also for architectural members.3 The Egyptians were interested not only in stone per sey but also in such qualities of stone as hardness, texture, coloring and rarity. Stone vessels from the beginning of the Dynastic show a wide variety of materials, many of which were secured from the deserts adjoining the Nile Valley. No doubt from a very early date men ventured into the desert valleys in search of rare and interesting stones. The transformation of Egypt into a uniform state brought official expeditions into regions where individuals had previously prospected. The main approach into the Eastern Desert, between the Nile valley and the Red Sea, from which the most desired stones came, is the Wadi Hammamat. There royal expeditions and individual entrepreneurs left inscriptions on the rocks.4 After a break during the so-called First Intermediate Period this activity was resumed in the time of Monthu-hotep I of the Xlth Dynasty (2060-2010 B.C.), and after his reign it continued on a large scale throughout the Middle Kingdom. The purpose of those expeditions was the quarrying of schist and greywacke6 for blocks suitable for large statuary. Their success is proved by numerous remains from this period. Little is known about the methods by which the stone was obtained. For the Egyptians the problems of the task were familiar and thus they saw no need to write about it. Perhaps in cases of unusual events a more detailed record