Here's a breakdown:
* Quarrying, not just cutting: The Egyptians employed a combination of techniques to extract granite blocks, including:
* Fire setting: They would heat the rock with fire, then rapidly cool it with water. This created thermal shock, causing the rock to crack and flake off.
* Copper chisels and hammers: These tools, though seemingly primitive, were effective in chipping away at the granite.
* Wooden wedges: Drills and wedges made of hard wood were driven into cracks to gradually widen them and separate the granite.
* Nubian sandstone, not granite: The Nubian cliffs, while containing some granite, primarily consisted of sandstone. The Egyptians often used Nubian sandstone for building materials, particularly for blocks used in pyramids and other structures.
* Transportation challenges: Moving massive blocks of granite and sandstone from the Nubian quarries was a logistical feat, requiring ramps, sleds, and manpower.
Therefore, while the Egyptians did quarry granite and sandstone from Nubia, the process was not just about "cutting" blocks. It involved a sophisticated combination of techniques, tools, and ingenuity.
