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If you know of any other ancient construction techniques...

...please Contact-Us with references.
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     Quarry-Marks (for splitting stone).

The megalithic builders employed the same method of splitting quartz, at different locations all around the world. This is not unusual, as it is probably the best method, and is still widely used today.

In order to accurately split hard stone such as granite, a series of small holes were chiselled out, then filled with vegetable fibres, which expanded when soaked in water, thereby splitting the stone.

From South America:

 

Left: Machu Pichu (1) and Right: Cuzco.

Argentina, Qurry marks.

The Chilcas region, Mendoza, Argentina.

(Photo Credits: Dario Tursarkisian)

 

Egyptian quarry-Marks:

 

From Egypt, Beside Menkaure's pyramid at Ghiza...

 

 

 ...and at Aswan, also in Egypt.

 

An example from Carnac, France (Photo's courtesy of Ken. Tar very muchly!)

 

Castleruddery, Ireland.

The stone above was being prepared for splitting on two sides at the same time...

There are several stones in different stages of abandonment lying nearby this small henge-circle.

(More about Castleruddery)

 

Portuguese 'Quarry marks'

 

This stone on the right is still in place on a dolmen in Portugal (Anta da Orca), and the stone behind it also shows the remnants of the original quarry marks. 

This beautiful dolmen has another stone inside which has been cut specifically, as if it were shaped to fit another stone.. highlighting the balance of the builders to work with natural and worked stone.

Other stones in the region of 'Orca da Lapa' have the same quarry-marks on them, suggesting that perhaps the builders of these 'dolmens' re-used existing stones for their constructions, as the following pictures demonstrate.

 

Such as this stone which was re-used for the site plaque.

Orca da Lapa (left), Orca do Santo (right).

The 'Quarry': Within sight of the Orca do Santo is this quarry face where it is still possible to see  prehistoric cut-marks in the rocks.

The same quarry marks can be seen at the 'quarry' as seen on megaliths around the Orca complex.

Also from Portugal: Lacara Dolmen - Passage lintel.

Quarry marks, Coureleiros, Castelo de vide, Portugal.

In the same field as Anta Coureleiros II and III, Castelo de Vide. (Click here for more) 

(More about Prehistoric Portugal)

 

 

 

 

And Finally: What must be the most remarkable example of this particular stone-splitting technique comes from the underwater site of Yonaguni in southernmost Japanese waters.

 

This particular discovery goes a long way in the case for the site having been man-made.

(More about the Yonaguni site)

 

(Other Construction Techniques)   (Extreme Masonry)

☼

 The 'Rough Guide' to ancient sites from around the world.

References:

 

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