Fire on the Rocks: Heat as an Agent in Ancient Egyptian Hard Stone Quarrying

The knowledge that heat has an influence on rock properties and can be applied intentionally for changing such properties has existed longer than modern man. Archaeological research has uncovered numerous examples of the use of firesetting in ancient stone quarrying and metal mining. Also in Egyptian quarries, evidence of the use of fire is found. The present paper presents features found in five Egyptian quarries and discusses these on a background of rock properties and possible quarrying technologies. Conclusively, it suggests that the use of fire in stone quarrying reached a highly sophisticated level during the New Kingdom period.