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Encyclopedia > Stone quarries of ancient Egypt
Rock temples cut directly in the rocks at the Silsileh quarrying site, near Aswan
Rock temples cut directly in the rocks at the Silsileh quarrying site, near Aswan

The Stone quarries of ancient Egypt (now archaeological sites) once produced quality stone for the construction of decorative monuments such as sculptures and obelisks. Some of these sites are well identified and the chemical composition of their stones is also well known, allowing the geographical origin of most of the monuments to be traced using petrographic techniques, including neutron activation analysis. Aswan (Arabic: أسوان Aswān) (, population 200,000) is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate. ... A sculpture is a three-dimensional object, which for the purposes of this article is man-made and selected for special recognition as art. ... The Luxor obelisk in the Place de la Concorde in Paris For other uses, see Obelisk (disambiguation). ... Petrography is the description of rocks and their textures. ... // How Neutron Activation Analysis Works Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) is a nuclear process used for determining certain concentrations of elements in a vast amount of materials. ...


In June 2006 the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) of Egypt established a new department for conservation of ancient quarries and mines in Egypt. The new department will work in close cooperation with the regional SCA offices and special training programmes for Inspectors of Antiquities will be carried out to enable the regional authorities to tackle inventory, documentation, risk assessment and management of the ancient quarries and mines. 80% of the ancient quarry sites are in the Nile valley: some of them have disappeared under the waters of Lake Nasser and some others are disappearing due to modern mining activity. June 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Extraordinary renditions. ... Part of the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the Supreme Council of Antiquities (commonly abbreviated SCA) is responsible for the conservation, protection and regulation of all antiquities and archaeological excavations in the Arab Republic of Egypt. ... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... View of Lake Nasser from Abu Simbel Map showing the location of Lake Nasser Lake Nasser (Arabic: Buhayrat Nasir) is a vast artificial lake in southern Egypt and northern Sudan. ...


Some of the most important ancient quarry sites in Egypt are:

Contents

The quarries of Aswan

The quarries are located along the Nile in the city of Aswan. There are a number of well-known sites: Shellal, the northern and southern quarries within an area of about 20 km² in the west bank and the islands of Elephantine and Seheil. One of the known directors of these Aswan sites was Hori during the times of Ramses III. In the present days, the quarry area is to become an open-air musuem[1]. The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... Aswan (Arabic: أسوان Aswān) (, population 200,000) is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate. ... Elephantine Island, showing the nilometer (lower left) and the Aswan Museum. ... Osirid statues of Ramses III at Karnak. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Some of the monuments known to come from this site are: Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ...

Close up of Cleopatras Needle (London) Cleopatras Needle in Paris at the Place de la Concorde. ... The unfinished obelisk is the largest known ancient obelisk, located in an ancient quarry near Aswan (Assuan), Egypt. ... Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... Netjerikhet Consort(s) Inetkawes, Hetephernebti Unknown Father Khasekhemwy? Mother Nimaethap? Major Monuments Pyramid of Djoser Netjerikhet Djoser (Turin King List Dsr-it; Manetho Tosarthros) is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt, for commissioning the official Imhotep to build his Step Pyramid at Saqqara. ... Sneferu He of Beauty[1] Horus name Neb-maat[2] Nebty name Neb-maat-nebty[2] Golden Horus Bik-nub[2] Consort(s) Hetepheres I Issues Khufu Father Huni Mother Meresankh I Died 2589 BC Major Monuments Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid Sneferu, also spelt as Snefru or Snofru (in Greek... Saqqara (Arabic: سقارة) is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid. ... Khufu Protected by Khnum[1] Horus name Medjedu Nebty name Nebty-r-medjed Golden Horus Bikwy-nub Consort(s) Meritates, Henutsen, plus two other queens whose names are not known[2] Issues Djedefra, Kawab, Khafre, Djedefhor, Banefre, Khufukaef, Hetepheres II, Meresankh II, Khamerernebty[2] Father Sneferu Mother Hetepheres I Died... The name Khafre can refer to: The Pharaoh Khafra, also known as Chephren. ... Menkaura (Greek Mycerinus) was a pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty of Egypt (ca. ... Pyramids of Giza in 1960s Egypt: Site of Giza or Al Jizah (top center). ...

Gebel el Ahmar

Gebel el Ahmar (30.05 N, 31.3 E) [4] is located near Cairo on the banks of the Nile, near Heliopolis. The name means "Red Mountains". The site was in full production in the times of Akhenaton, Amenhophis III, Tutankhamon and Ramses III. The quarry was directed by Huy also known as "Chief of the King's Works" and also by Hori. Nickname: Al Qahirah (The Triumphant City) Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... Heliopolis (Greek Ἡλίου πόλις) was one of the most ancient cities of Egypt, and capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome. ... Bust of Pharaoh Akhenaten. ... Tutankhamun (alternate transcription Tutankhamen), named Tutankhaten early in his life, was Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt (1334 BC/1333 BC - 1323 BC), during the period known as the New Kingdom. ... Osirid statues of Ramses III at Karnak. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Some of the monuments known to come from this site are: Celestine or celestite[1] (SrSO4) is a mineral consisting of strontium sulfate. ... Quartzite Quartzite is a hard, metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. ...

The Colossi of Memnon The Colossi of Memnon (known to locals as el-Colossat, or es-Salamat) are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3400 years they have stood in the Theban necropolis, across the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor. ...

Silsileh

Gebel el-Silsila or Gebel Silsileh is 40 miles north of Aswan along the banks of the Nile and was a very famous quarrying area throughout all of ancient Egypt due to the quality of the building stone quarried here. The site is a rich archaeological area having temples cut directly on the hills. Examples include the rock temple of Horemheb on the west bank. Many of the monuments here bear inscriptions of Merenptah, Ramesses II, Hatshepsut, Amenhotep II and Ramesses III. The quarries and the stone temples here are visible from a boat when cruising the Nile. Gebel el-Silsila is 65km north of Aswan, where the cliffs on both sides of the Nile narrow. ... Aswan (Arabic: أسوان Aswān) (, population 200,000) is a city in the south of Egypt, the capital of the Aswan Governorate. ... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ... Djeserkheperure Setepenre Holy are the Manifestations of Re, Chosen of Re Nomen Horemheb Meryamun Horus is in Jubilation, Beloved of Amun Consort(s) Mutnedjmet Amenia Died 1292 BC Burial KV57 Djeserkheperure Horemheb was the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypts 18th Dynasty from c. ... Merneptah (occasionally: Merenptah) was pharaoh of Ancient Egypt (1213 – 1203 BC), the fourth ruler of the 19th Dynasty. ... Usermaatre-setepenre The Justice of Re is Powerful, Chosen of Re Nomen Ramesses (meryamun) Born of Re, (Beloved of Amun) Horus name Kanakht Merymaa Nebty name Mekkemetwafkhasut Golden Horus Userrenput-aanehktu Consort(s) Isetnofret, Nefertari Maathorneferure Issues Bintanath, Khaemweset, Merneptah, Amun-her-khepsef, Meritamen see also: List of children of... Maatkare[1] Truth is the Ka of Re Nomen Khnumt-Amun Hatshepsut[1] Joined with Amun, Foremost of Noble Ladies Horus name Wesretkau [1] Mighty of Kas Nebty name Wadjrenput[1] Flourishing of years Golden Horus Netjeretkhau [1] Divine of appearance Consort(s) Thutmose II Issues Neferure Father Thutmose I... Aakheperure Great are the forms of Re Nomen Amenhotep Heka Iunu Amun is Satisfied, Ruler of Heliopolis Horus name Ka Nakht Wer Pekhty Strong Bull, Great of Power Nebty name User Fau Sekha Em Wast Powerful of Splendour, Appearing in Thebes Golden Horus Ity Sekhemef em Tau Neb Who seizes... Usermaatre Meryamun Powerful one of Maat and Ra, Beloved of Amun Nomen Ramesse Hekaiunu Ra bore him, Ruler of Heliopolis Died 1151 BC Burial KV11 Major Monuments Medinet Habu Ramesses III (also written Ramses and Rameses) was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty and is considered to be... The Nile (Arabic: , transliteration: , Ancient Egyptian iteru, Coptic piaro or phiaro) is a major north-flowing river in Africa, generally regarded as the longest river in the world. ...


Some of the monuments known to come from this site are:

  • Temple of Horemheb

Edfu

These quarries are located 8 km north of Edfu. The front of the Edfu Temple. ...


Some of the monuments known to come from this site are:

Lucius Septimius Severus (b. ... The Colossi of Memnon The Colossi of Memnon (known to locals as el-Colossat, or es-Salamat) are two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3400 years they have stood in the Theban necropolis, across the River Nile from the modern city of Luxor. ...

Wadi Hammamat

Wadi Hammamat is a quarrying area located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. This site is famous because it is described in the first ancient topographic map known nowadays: the Turin Papyrus Map describing a quarrying expedition prepared for Ramesses IV. The Turin Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian map, generally considered the oldest surviving map of topographical interest from the ancient world. ... Heqamaatre Ruler of Justice like Re[1] Nomen Ramesses Re bore him Consort(s) Duatentopet Issues Ramesses V Burial KV2 Major Monuments Temple of Khonsu at Karnak Heqamaatre Ramesses IV (also written Ramses or Rameses) was the third pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Basalt Basalt (IPA: ) is a common gray to black volcanic rock. ...

Widan el-Faras

Widan el-Faras on Gebel el-Qatrani, Faiyum. Located 60 km south-west of Cairo in the Western Desert. The quarry landscape of the Northern Faiyum Desert comprises both the Umm es-Sawan and Widan el-Faras basalt quarries, both exploited in the early 3rd millennium BC[5]. Egypt: Site of Al Fayyum oasis (top center). ... Nickname: Al Qahirah (The Triumphant City) Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Basalt Basalt (IPA: ) is a common gray to black volcanic rock. ... Gypsum is a very soft mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. // Heating gypsum to between 100°C and 150°C (302°F) partially dehydrates the mineral by driving off exactly 75% of the water contained in its chemical structure. ...

Muqattam hills

Muqattam hills is a site is located near Memphis. Memphis, coordiates , , was the ancient capital of the first nome of Lower Egypt, and of the Old Kingdom of Egypt from its foundation until around 1300 BC. Its Ancient Egyptian name was Ineb Hedj (The White Walls). The name Memphis is the Greek deformation of the Egyptian name of Pepi...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ...

El Amarna

Near El Amarna, a few hours walking. Amarna (commonly known as el-Amarna) is the name given to an extensive archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty (c. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

A modern uplighter lamp made completely from Italian alabaster (white and brown types). ...

Idahet

The site is located a few kilometers near Idahet in barren desert terrain. It was abandoned during the Middle Kingdom The Middle Kingdom is: a old name for China a period in the History of Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom of Egypt This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Categories: Mineral stubs | Igneous rocks ...

Gabal Abu Dukhan

This site, near modern Hurghada was important above all for the Roman Empire. Pliny's Natural History affirmed that the "Imperial Porphyry" had been discovered at an isolated site in Egypt in AD 18, by a Roman legionnaire named Caius Cominius Leugas. The location of the site was lost for many centuries until it was rediscovered in the XIX century. Al-Mahmya: a tourist facility on the protected Giftun island off the coast near Hurghada Hurghada (ar. ... Motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent, c. ... Naturalis Historia Pliny the Elders Natural History is an encyclopedia written by Pliny the Elder. ...


Typical minerals known from this site:

Some of the monuments known to come from this site are: Porphyry is a very hard igneous rock consisting of large-grained crystals, such as feldspar or quartz, dispersed in a fine-grained feldspathic matrix or groundmass. ...

View of Magdeburg with the cathedral on the right. ...

Koptos

Koptos is located in Wadi Rohanu.


Typical minerals known from this site:

Slate Thick slate fragment Slate roof Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low grade regional metamorphism. ...

Qurna

Qurna is located near Thebes. It was an active site during the reign of Amenhotep III. Kurna, Qurna or Qurnah is a town in middle Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile, in the Theban necropolis. ... Thebes For the ancient capital of Boeotia, see Thebes, Greece. ... Amenhotep Hekawaset Amun is Satisfied, Ruler of Thebes[1] Reign 1388 BC – 1351 BC/1350 BC Praenomen Nebmaatre The Lord of Truth is Re[2] Horus name Kanakht Emkhaimaat The strong bull, appearing in truth Nebty name Semenhepusegerehtawy One establishing laws, pacifying the two lands Golden Horus Aakhepesh-husetiu Great...


Typical minerals known from this site:


Other important quarry sites include: Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ...

  • Tura
  • Ed-Dibabiya, opposite Gebelein

Tura was a site in Ancient Egypt, located about halfway between modern Cairo and Helwan[1]. It was Egypts primary quarry for limestone. ...

References

  • R. F. Heizer et al. "The Colossi of Memnon Revisited", Science 21 December 1973: Vol. 182. no. 4118, pp. 1219 - 1225

External links





 

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